It’s official, I’m a liar, a terrible liar. After an impassioned proclamation regarding my need to write and share my stories with whatever readership may have been interested, I dropped the ball. Sorry, my friends. I can say, however, that I spent a glorious summer doing exactly what we were all meant to be doing, living. I did find an attempt at an entry buried among computer documents that I’m posting months later. Because, why not? It’s my blog.

I’ve Never Been Here Before (July 13th, 20130)

This week I told some friends, “I just had one of the best weekends of my life!” A sly smile met with the words, “Who’s the guy?” was the response I received. My company was oddly surprised to see that something else had left me smiling giddily ear to ear.

Context is Key:

Just over two years ago, I said a bittersweet “See you later!” to my family, friends, and boyfriend at the time, endeavoring to experience something new, something of my own. I got on a plane and flew across the Atlantic ocean, finding myself in the surreal surroundings of Berlin, Germany. I was drawn to Berlin from the first and only other time I’d visited for a mere 48 hours just a couple of years before. I knew then that I would find myself there later, somehow. Fascinated by a place that had only recently on a 20th century historical level been tainted by political and ideological difference, I saw Berlin as a playground, a blossoming cityscape still coming into its own. Much like myself. Arriving on my own and humbled by the the ensuing vulnerability of the plunge, the handful of friendships that I made during my 5 months studying in Berlin remain some of the most important relationships of my life to date.

Elivia. It took us flying across the world to find each other, walking down the cobblestone streets of our new home away from home, Prosecco in hand. Neighbours there, and by some stroke of magic, neighbours in Vancouver. Since coming back home, our friendship has flourished and calms us in those most vulnerable of moments that recall the loneliness of being an ex-pat. Besides that, we’ve never shied away from a party, nor a little bit of trouble. All in good fun, of course.

Dancing to the beat of true metropolitan fervour, my sunshine-haired and jade-eyed cohort has been studying in New York City for the last year. Back to visit family, we were reunited for a weekend unlike any other that I’ve had this summer so far, or ever really.

All Aboard!

When Elivia invited me to join her family for a day trip on her father’s boat, I was elated to say the least. Besides having been a pedestrian on the Seabus or Ferry, I’d never rode on a boat before. Sailing off into a sunny Vancouver afternoon, I was blown away by the beauty of the water and it’s inhabitants, the collection of islands floating, as if they’d been arranged perfectly to illustrate the inexplicable.

Now, I know I said it was a family function, but I can only hope that years down the line when I am coordinating a reunion amongst my bloodline, I stock the liquor cabinet as well as Elivia’s father, Doug. That man sure knows how to party. Yacht life inspired a menu of white wine spritzers for the afternoon…and I’d be lying if I said I cut myself off after I’d lost track of the number of glasses I’d had. I never fell over, so I must have been alright.

Nearing our destination, a quaint little spot at Centre Bay, I took over the helm at one point, as the captain was gracious (or half-cut) enough to allow me the honour. I can honestly say, there’s nothing like taking charge of a 50 foot yacht, especially when you don’t even have your driver’s license. But shhhhh, don’t tell him!

I could go on about the details of the yacht; its gizmos and gadgets, the adrenaline I felt when it accelerated into the sea, or the unsurprising fact that I felt ‘free’ towering over the tides with a glass of wine in hand…but I can’t imagine the pseudo-emotional rant would be of much excitement to my reader.

It was a good time. You know I’m not lying. And pretty well, I hope that everyone finds themselves the opportunity to take the helm sometime.