A Few Favourites from 2009

A lovely little guy was born.

Time with Mom and Bro.

A day of fun with the roomies.

Another lovely little guy turned two.

A summer's adventure with friends.

A trip to Niagara Falls with Seg and his family.

Precious Penelope grew up.

Two trips to the Dorset fire tower, one with Mom, one with pals.

A walk to work on a chilly Autumn morning.

A few photos at work.

I've been thinking a lot lately about folks I miss. I've met and become close with a lot of people over the course of my life time so far...high school friends, college friends, people I've worked with, roommates. Any number of little things will make me think of these people and miss them. Some, I visit with. Some pop in and see me. I'll receive a telephone call or a letter or see some pictures on facebook and instantly be reminded of how much I enjoy this particular person and be filled with like and love for them.

Many of the people I no longer see often live around the city; I met many of them while at school. Sometimes, when I'm feeling a little lonely or nostalgic for these people and certain things they brought into my life, it's tempting to pull up and move back down South. But that saying about the grass being greener certainly applies here. There are many people I have in my life right now I'd miss a great deal should I move. My parents, grandparents, best friends, little children, even people at work who I still barely know are a pleasant addition in my life that I would miss should I know longer see them. Besides, the more I think about it, the more I realize my loved ones are all over the map. Toronto, Oakville, Sudbury, Orton, Ottawa, Halifax, Singapore.... I've gotten to a point in my life where I'm close to more people that will stay in one place any more. My friends all have lives of their own to lead and no matter where I go, there's simply no way I could be with them all.

In some senses, it's almost a relief. Realizing there's no way I can chase after my friends takes a bit of the pressure off. I can't really worry if I'd be happier living somewhere else with the knowledge that everywhere I could go would take away as much as it would offer. But it's not hopeless either. I've recieved so much good love over the last little while. A phone call from Kitchener, a letter from Halifax. A Toronto friend popped into my work to say hello. My aunt from China brought her baby home for Xmas. Another pair of Toronto friends, heading North, happened to stop into Huntsville tonight for a bite to eat. And in the hour or so they were here, I was lucky enough to run into them.

I guess what I'm saying is that if people mean enough to you (and you mean enough to people) things may change, but you'll still remain a part of each other's lives. It may be a big part or a little one, frequently or rather seldom, planned or even by ridiculous chance, it's still lovely and it's still something. Like the friend I saw tonight said, it must have been meant to happen.

Lovely November

I'm feeling pretty good today. I woke up to sun and fresh air and didn't even realize until several hours in that I had forgotten to set the clock back, and was therefore further ahead than I thought. I ade some telephone calls and wrote some e-mails, things that always make me feel productive and responsible even though they're such little accomplishments. (Probably has something to do with the fact that I am oddly scared of the phone. Calling anyone for business, work or even sometimes fun reasons makes me anxious...silly,huh?)

I've got so much work to do with this week on artistic pursuits. A project to finish for one person, two more to design for another. Some work of my own to finish off, as I finally feel ready to show some stores my finished pieces. Another personal project I'm absolutely itching to start. And two local women to speak with about moving forward in the textile world. How exciting to be making these contacts! I'm pretty stoked. And my week has been scheduled in just such a way that I ought to have plenty of time for all of it (famous last words). But still. Feeling good.

Hallowe'en was great. I finished my costume and was utterly pleased with it. Everyone else looked great too. We swung by my mother's place so she could see us all dressed up (just like being a kid again) and then went out to the Hideaway, the only party in town. It was a pretty good time, Seguin even won second place in the costume contest, I was the super-cheesy-proud girlfriend for sure.

It had been a long time since I had a costume idea I was as enthused about as this one, and it had been since grade 13 that I worked so hard on a costume. Now that I'm all finished with it, it goes in the closet, I suppose. My last handmade costume is still there, a white corseted fairy dress made of old sheer curtains. It's been out and used again several times since then, once by my friend Skye, once by Fiona, two or three times by me. I was talking to a woman at work the other day about keeping old costumes for reuse, and now that I'm adding Lydia's wedding dress to the stash, I realize I really like the idea of keeping them all, of building up my own personal costume wardrobe. What fun to have access to a whole variety of dress up possibilities; for Hallowe'en of course, and for lending to others, but for any sort of dress up party, for fun photo shoots, for videos and good times and crazy nights where you might just feel like dressing up. And think what a collection it would be if I did this every year!

Here's some pictures of the costumes. Enjoy!