Just Being
They had had a long day. With only one day in Vancouver, the Crawfords had taken advantage of as much as possible. Skiing would be refreshing after pounding the pavement all day. But lest you think they didn’t have a wonderful day, let me update you on all their stops. After a leisurely coffee and croissants in the restaurant dining room, they ventured out into Vancouver. “So, my darling wife. Where should we go?” Jeremy, tall and handsome, looked more relaxed than Emelina had seen him in a long time. Despite the Vancouver chill of threatened rain or snow, he was ready for a long stroll. “Why Jeremy, I thought you had this all planned! This surprise winter holiday. But if you’re stuck for ideas……” Emelina teased and hesitated, but she had pored over the Vancouver Information pamphlets in their room the night before. Jeremy just hugged her and smiled back at her teasing. “I saw you looking over the pamphlets last night. Your face gave you away every time you saw something interesting. So what’s it to be? Anything you want we’ll do.”
“I don’t know if we can do it in just one day. First I want to go to every art gallery in the city…..” When she saw the twitch in Jeremy’s jaw……. “but I know that’s impossible so I just picked one..the Vancouver Art Gallery. One of their exhibits is Uninvited: Canadian Women Artists in the Modern Moment. Then, and I really don’t know which one should be first, to Granville Island ~ there are smaller art galleries there. Maybe we could do that one at lunch time - they have wonderful food there. Lots of small artisan shops to look through as well. Then just a nice restaurant for supper. So not that much.” Jeremy’s slow smile broadened as he saw his wife’s excitement. “I guess we’ll sleep well tonight, Em. We’d best get going. What time does the museum open?” So long away at work all the time he seldom had opportunity to give her what he had wanted.
“Hmm”. Emelina referred to the notes she had taken the night before. “10am.” She glanced at her watch. “It’s 9:30 now, by the time we get there - I think it’s about six blocks from here.” Often troubled by how much time they spent apart because of his odd hours at the hospital, she knew how much this trip meant for both of them. She really did get quite lonely sometimes.
~~~~~
For the next eight hours, they lost themselves in the artworks at the Gallery and then through all the shops, workshops, and restaurants at Granville Island. They both wandered the gallery with great interest. Then, they left their adult selves behind and dove into just being together. A workshop where brooms were hand made, another where leather clothing was made, pottery, art galleries and food……..oh the food. They wanted to sample everything but also wanted to sit down and eat lunch. Emelina did talk Jeremy into getting a cotton candy to share. A slushy rain/snow had begun while they were inside at the big food market. Eating some of it inside, Emelina held the cotton candy while he held their umbrella as they walked to the next artisan’s shop. Both had sore feet and were ready to get back to their hotel, but bravely kept on til they had seen every bit of Granville Island.
They had laughed and been curious, been in awe of the creativity of so many others, been amazed at the deliciousness of the foods they had eaten, and been warmed by being together. Anything else was in their other world that seemed to have been a yesterday far away. But in the moment, the beauty of it all had been tempered when Emelina said “I just have to sit down, Jeremy. I’m exhausted!” Emelina’s sore feet had finally bested her. “Is it time to get back to the hotel? It’s only 5, Em. Are you sure?” Hesitating for only a second, he joined with her. “I think I agree with you. If we’ve missed anything, it will have to stay missed. I’m done.” The thought of walking all the way back to the hotel was too much for either of them so a taxi was summoned. All either of them could think of was staying warm and cosy in their bed, a down filled duvet and soft pillows making everything all right. The perfect ending to a perfect day.
“The day you stop racing is the day you win the race.”
~ Bob Marley
Authors note:
Uninvited: Canadian Women Artists in the Modern Moment
June 11, 2022 to January 8, 2023
Vancouver Art Gallery
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