Friday was another wonderful and busy day. I dropped mom off at work and headed towards Kitsilano my old neighborhood to visit my step sister. We decided to go to Granville Island for lunch and meet up with my good friend Maja from White Rock.
The markets were busy, full of tourists during Spring Break. I always enjoy the colours of Vancouver, white washed by Robert Bateman, casting a haze over everything.
We walked around, grabbed a picnic lunch to eat near the water and enjoyed watching the boats in the harbour. I honestly felt at home, and the smells of the ocean were very inviting.
Maja had to leave early to miss the traffic, but not before treating us to Lee’s donuts and coffee. Carley and I were sitting there finishing our coffee and I noticed a homeless man going through a big garbage bin. I jumped up and headed straight towards the man! My sister probably thought I was nuts. It was Abdul my friend from Kits Safeway store where I had worked for 10 years. I hadn’t seen him in over 8 years now, and he said EVA!! I was so happy he remembered my name. He used to cut the first Lilac blooms (probably stealing them from someone’s garden) when he saw them and bring them in for me to take home. Such a loving man. I cannot see Lilacs without thinking of him. I was glad to see he is well and it made my day!
Then Carley took me to Jericho beach for a two hour walk along the shore. So nice and great pictures too. I used to come here everyday. I would notice how each day was totally different from the next; the clouds, the weather, the winds, the tide, the waves and it become a ritual for me. It taught me that all though things seem to stay the same it really is only perspective. Change is the constant. This thought brings me great comfort. I said my goodbyes after our awesome discussion (as usual)!
Afterwards I picked up mom in Richmond Costco where she is now a demo lady and she dropped me back to Kits to see good friends Phil and Joy, and also Denis and Lisa; Alfonz’s friends from back in the day. It was so nice to catch-up with all of them and Joy served an amazing and beautifully presented meal; humus, BBQ, bread, asparagus, and endless glasses of wine. It was such a great day to chat, I felt prolific and deep into the conversation, but no wonder, Joy and Phil bring it out in me. I have always admire them both so very much and their opinions are gold.
On my way home at 11:00pm, I learned to use the bus over by Chapters on Granville Street. On the bus I met a crazy lady who talked about her degrees and a bus driver that talked about how things have really changed in Vancouver who is originally from White Rock.
It is a funny thing, but no matter where I am in the world, people always just start talking to me. If I am in store, people ask me where things are and I happily show them if I know. Sometimes I am walking along and someone practically collides into me, we start talking and by the end of our conversation they say, you know this is not a chance meeting. Well, if I had a dollar for every time I heard this I would be a very rich lady indeed!
I love being open. And I think because I am so open that people come to me. Sometimes I do get hurt from this, as not everyone is trusting and loving. I realized long ago that it isn’t about me, it is their own issues. I can only be me and I cannot go through life worrying how that affects other people; there are far too many different people in the world! I will never change- the rewards are far too amazing.
I have met some interesting people on chance meetings like this; in my Safeway line, on transit throughout the world, on vacation, on planes, in the streets, in my rentals, through my websites and sometimes even on the telephone. My lesson and message to all is simple. Give love and you will get love. Be open to opportunities and the path to them will come. Search for happiness and it will find you. I believe this will my entire being.
Far too many people are closed, sceptical, untrusting and then complain that prospects don’t come their way. If they could project who they are onto others, then the law of attraction works by sending them the same. Unfortunately it also works in reverse. If you are negative, well then that is what will come to you too.
During my two weeks in Vancouver, I felt I was in some kind of screenplay, and my character visited all these different people from the past and each taught me something I needed to know about myself. Honestly- it would make a bad story- about a girl making her full circle to find clarity in her new expat life in southern France. If France doesn’t already give a multitude of reasons to be happy, then the affirmation from old friends and family from back home will reconfirm any of our decisions to move away in the first place.
Everything changes yet everything also stays the same.
All in all it was a beautiful day full of awesome conversation and a good ending to my Vancouver holidays.
Just like my weeping willow tree, I am sad to say goodbye, so I am taking Maja’s advice of not saying goodbye at all. See you later Vancouver!
