All The Roads & All The Miles

There is so much to be said about how iconic mountains are. Not ironic or ionic, but iconic (today while looking at blow-dryers, my mom goes "This one's iconic!" and I said "No, mom.. it's ionic.. or maybe.. ironic.." but that particular blow-dryer was probably not iconic. I bought it, maybe it will get iconic later in life). In any case, whenever I first get back to Calgary, I am desperate to get a glimpse of the Rockies. Furthermore, throughout my stay at home (whether it is days, weeks, or months), every opportunity I get, I drink the mountains in. If I can see them, I feel as if mountains are water and I have been dead thirsty for months.

I identified this feeling today while driving out on Stoney Trail, the highest point on the Northwest end of the city. With the sun bright, the sky blue and dazzling, and a summer wind blowing, I would've been satisfied to sit there all day and gaze. I further attempted to quench my thirst with a run to the top of Signal Hill, which lies between downtown and the mountains, at sunset, but got chilly quickly and had to run home again. I think that if I were really rich, I would build a house that was in the most perfect position to view the indescribable vista on the edge of the city and at the highest point. And also away from everyone else.


If there was an apex to reach in one's life, would you only realize it after you'd passed the apex and were on the descent? Or does the apex last as long as you can manage it? Another question I could think of is how do people view infinity, or do they even think about it? In truth, I think we all have the capability to make anything last forever, but we get bored, tired, or complacent before forever even gets to happen. I used to love plane rides, airports, checking in, waiting... But lately, after approximately 47 (so not kidding) plane rides later, the novelty is beginning to wear off. It doesn't help to have strange, odd, weird, or indescribably so, men sitting beside you, ensuring you will not sleep, take a deep breath, blink, nor visit the bathroom on the entire 4-hour flight. At least it wasn't a Greyhound.

Sometimes I feel as if I try too hard in my writing, and if I could just manage to let myself go, I would finally be happy with what comes out of my fingers when I type. I read things like http://chinesebroccoli.org/adventures/ and wish, for once, that what I write was interesting and endlessly readable. I wish I could express how I view the world more accurately with words. So far in life, I am only minimally satisfied. Perhaps it will get easier with time.

Calgary is always my place to be, an ultimate of ultimates. I feel like this arid city has brought me into my own, and for that I will be forever grateful. Sometimes I believe it's how people feel when they think they've found God in heaven on Earth, except I've found myself and apparently myself was in Calgary at the time. I'm so glad I got a chance to catch up.