This week, like the rest of the country, my eyes were fixed on Jasper. Like so many, our family has travelled to Alberta twice and I spent time scrolling through photos of the mountains and scenic highlights of some of our most beautiful Canadian road trips. Yellowknifers around me told me stories about their experiences of wildfire evacuation one year ago. We were also so sad to find out that at least two churches in Jasper have been destroyed, including Jasper United. Every time the air became smoky in town, my heart wandered south to where folks are lining up for meals and trying to figure out what is going to happen next.
My acclimatization to life North of 60 continues. It seems so strange to say that the days are getting shorter (sunset tonight is at 10:32 pm, sunrise was 4:56 am), but with the change in daylight hours happening at 5.5 minutes less each day, you actually notice how fast the time goes. The endless summer days seem a little less endless now, and I am actually getting out the pants and sweatshirts I packed with such reluctance just 3 weeks ago. I'm learning the rhythm of the city, like how the baseball diamond is still active with beer-league play until well past 10 p.m. and how the main street is almost empty on Sunday afternoons. Alcohol sales are prohibited on Sunday, and many restaurants are closed as well. It's a good excuse for a long walk around Old Town or a hike around the lake. Speaking of, I actually conquered the entire Frame Lake Trail from start to finish on Friday, and the rocky terrain made me newly aware of several muscles in my backside. Someone told me that walking on rock is really good for the brain, and wards off dementia, so I'm in. I also got a chance to take in a Drag Brunch at the iconic Wildcat Cafe (the oldest restaurant in town) and meet some new friends. The local drag scene is quite amazing - does your town have a nonbinary drag cow named Thunder? I thought not. Cheers to all the performers!
This week, my husband is here for a visit and his love of this town abounds to the point of foolishness, so it's incredibly sweet to see how happy he is to be back. We seem to have diverging plans for his time here - I want to drive out to Giant Mine and check out the new museum there, pick up a book at the new bookstore, and maybe go to a glass-etching workshop at the Old Town Glassworks. He wants to eat at every single one of his favourite restaurants in town - and it's a long list!
I'm also captivated this week by the new novel I'm reading called The Ministry of Time, by Kaliane Bradley. Total coincidence, but it's a time-travel story in which one of the "expats" of history was a commander on the Franklin Expedition. Sir John Franklin is kind of a big deal around these parts. It's the first novel to grab me in awhile. Bradley's use of metaphor and simile is absolutely hilarious. My favourites so far include, "her voice dry as a filing system" and "he filled the room like a horizon."
Halfway through my time here, it seems clear that I'll be coming back. I love this place.
