I’m writing this on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. It’s moments like this morning that make me grateful to be alive, especially in these times we’re living through. With all the ugliness going on in the world, it’s so refreshing and healing to go on a little adventure and experience beauty.
I woke up early enough to shower and put on clean clothes before driving my sister and my daughter to work this morning. That made it possible for me to keep my daughter’s vehicle to putz around. My vehicle died a few years ago. I decided to donate her to the Canadian Mental Health Association via Donate a Car Canada. CMHA got a cash donation, and I got a tax receipt. My vehicle was towed to a scrap yard and has since become an organ donor (recycled).
For today’s adventures, I started by going down by the river to climb this big wooden staircase I drive by a lot but had never explored. I’m pleased to share that I made it all the way to the top in one go and was only a tiny bit winded at the top! Not bad for a middle-aged broad who lives a sedentary life.
A panoramic photo shows a piece of the Meewasin (Cree word for beautiful) Valley on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
After that little adventure, I drove to a nearby playground to go on the swings. Unfortunately, since the last time I’ve been to that park, they’ve changed the swings to smaller ones made for small children, not chubby women. It probably would have supported my weight, but it wouldn’t have been comfortable, so I skipped it. While looking at the playground, an orange cat shaved to look like a lion walked past me, so that was interesting.
I then decided to head back up along the river to go park in a little parking lot, and I walked the short distance to go sit on a big rock/boulder. I discovered the biggest rock had, at some point, somehow, split in two, and the top half had toppled over. So, in a way, I got to sit “inside” a rock.
I set up my picnic blanket on one of the halves of the rock, so I was facing the river, and did a little journaling while eating a snack. It was so warm, sunny, still, and barely any bugs were out. No mosquitoes or wasps to worry about. I could hear a couple of woodpeckers working away nearby. I felt so much gratitude to be there in that moment. Today was our first really nice spring day, and I was so filled with joy that I got to enjoy it! Having a flexible schedule and not working in an office definitely has its benefits.
Speaking of benefits, once I got too hot, sitting in the sun, I headed back to my vehicle and went to check my P.O. box. I was extremely relieved to see that the cheque from my provincial government benefits was in there. Hallelujah!!!! What a relief to finally stop holding my breath. I was able to treat myself to a thick slice of Vern’s Pizza. Later, I’ll go pick up a few groceries, so I have food to eat for the rest of the week.
It was a pretty perfect morning. An encouraging, glorious glimpse into living a life less confined.
