I've narrowed down my top 10 favourite things about the summer of 2018, AKA #surgeryfreesummer. Here they are, in no particular order:
1) Happy Family, happy life
When you move so far away from home, you return every year with the realization that things have changed. You get a snapshot of your friends and families lives every summer and observe that some changes are awesome - new babies, new relationships, new jobs. And some changes, unfortunately, are not positive. Last summer I left Canada feeling unsettled. Some of my friends were experiencing challenges and my Baba had just been diagnosed with lung cancer. I cried when we drove to the airport, uncertain about what the future held for the people I love.
This summer, it was so fantastic to see my family doing well and feeling happy. I was able to catch up with my parents, sister, grandmothers, cousins, aunts, and uncles. Although my Baba did have some health issues this summer, it blows my mind how strong and active she is at age 90. It brings me great joy to see my Baba picking weeds in her flower garden at the farm, a house that she wasn't sure she would be able to return to after receiving a cancer diagnosis last year. Take that, Cancer! My Grandma, like my Baba, is doing well at home and happily living with her kitty. I'm so proud of her positive attitude and her ability to continue doing the things she enjoys like making soup, jam, and baking cookies for all of us. There is also great joy in seeing your parents happy and healthy. I observed my Dad living his best life, riding his dirt bike on the beach with a 19 year old grin on his face, his girlfriend cheering him on from the deck. I'm so happy that my Mom and Lenny enjoy so many wonderful days on the boat together (and take me as a passenger!), making plans for their winter in California. We were also able to spend a lot of time with Evan's mom this summer, who, along with Evan's Aunt Joan, rented the cabin next door for 4 weeks. It was so nice to just cruise over and drink coffee on the deck with them or engage in a competitive game of corn hole. I was also able to spend a lot of time with my sister, Kayla, and we had huge laughs floating on the unicorn, doubling up on the paddle board, and singing on the boat - "To the window!!! To the wall..." In addition, it was great to catch up with cousins, share family gossip, and meet their new additions. Overall, it was a positive summer for my family and it was really nice to observe everyone flourishing.
2) Fresh Air
As soon as our plane lands in Saskatchewan, I crane my neck through the jetway in hopes of catching my first sniff of fresh Saskatchewan air. Summer in Cayman in stifling, and the air feels heavy and unbreathable. The combination of fresh lake air, pine trees, and campfires makes my nose very happy. As I walked the dog every morning, I made a conscious effort to savour that fresh lake air.
2) Activities galore!
It's hard to believe that a year ago I was seriously contemplating whether or not I would ever walk again. This summer, not only was I walking, but I was riding my bike, paddle boarding, surfing, practicing yoga, and lifting weights. I can't even articulate how fantastic this feels! I refused to stay stationary this summer. Whenever I had some down time, I hopped on my bike and rode around the block. Why? Because I could! Every morning, as long as it was calm, I climbed on my paddle board and paddled to the end of our bay, stopping to do sit-ups and push ups. I surfed. I walked up and down stairs with no difficulties. I practiced beach yoga. I even pulled out my old school boat headstands, circa 2000. I rocked it! I haven't been this active in about 7 years! I am well aware that with the disease, things can change quickly, so I'm just soaking this all up and feeling grateful for the fact that, for the first time in 4 summers, I was able to participate in life during this holiday. Can you sense my massive smile as I type this???
3) Shark week baby shower followed by a baby!
When I initially found out that my bestie was having a baby at the end of August, I was disappointed that I would likely miss meeting her new human, but I quickly realized that I had the ability to pull off an epic shark week - baby style! The shark week baby shower was such an epic day with friends. We donned our shark hats, ate shark cupcakes, floated on unicorns, and drank champagne on the boat. We celebrated Allicia, Darren, and baby Harper, who was still quite cozy in Allicia's womb, and we laughed until our faces hurt. Unbeknownst to us, while we chased each other with shark fins, baby Harper was planning her exit 3 weeks early! Incredibly, Harper made her way into the world just a few days post shark week party and I was able to meet the newest Hunter. I am so lucky that not only did I get to meet and hold Harper, but I was able to see my best friends over the moon with their new little person!
4) Singing on the boat
Picture this: It's a beautiful calm summer evening. The setting sun is melting into Candle Lake and the stars are beginning to scatter across the sky. I am floating on a boat with my posse, drinking my Kim Crawford Sauv Blanc and belting out Mr. Big's 90's classic, "I'm the one who wants to be with you." Ahhh...Pure magic. End of story.
5) Grooming a friend for the island
Our super bud, Stacey Weber, is moving to Cayman! I'm not exactly sure how it happened. He was at my birthday party in Cayman in April. We were partying on a boat. I was chambonging prosecco and the next thing I knew Stacey had 2 job offers! Go figure. I am very excited to have him join us in paradise. The three of us actually lived together about 10 years ago for a short period of time...Three's Company style, and although Stace will have his own place in Cayman, I'm excited to drink some rum and sing, "Come and knock on our door..." with my bud. I really enjoyed preparing Stace for the move to the island and reliving the feelings of excitement and trepidation that come with moving to a tropical island.
6) Fabulous Hair
Gosh my hair is fabulous in Canada. It curls, it bounces, it flips. It's really incredible hair, if I do say so myself ;) I am already mourning the loss of my "Canada hair," as I can expect the limp, greasy, lifeless locks to return as our plane descends upon the island. Well...it was nice while it lasted.
7) Polite Canadians
Ever try to politely squeeze past someone in the grocery store or in a theatre as you are returning to your seat and say, "Sorry. Just gonna sneak by here..." If you are Canadian then, YES, there is a 99.9% chance that you have uttered those words. This is a uniquely Canadian phrase and I love it! I get teased non-stop on the island for my polite "Canadianisms" and it was such a great feeling to be back among my uber polite people again, apologizing profusely for....what exactly? being Canadian, I guess? Sorry.
8) Quality Visits
Let's call a spade a spade. Last summer I was highly medicated...AKA stoned. I was taking meds every 4 hours just to get through the painful days. When my friends came to visit, filling me in all their news over the past year, I struggled to process their words, respond appropriately, and provide witty comebacks, "Kirstie" style. I could see the concern in my buds' faces and felt like a terrible friend. Our conversations consisted mostly of surface topics and I suspected that some of my friends were holding back, knowing that I didn't have the cognitive capacity to delve into deeper topics.
Given the fact that I am now drug-free and mostly pain-free, I felt like my old self this summer. I felt confident, funny, witty, and quick. I had a really fantastic visit with my kindergarten bestie one afternoon this summer and we were able to really catch up and discuss everything that we've missed out on the past few years. When I hugged her goodbye she said, "I couldn't talk to you like this last year. It's so nice to have you back." Music to my ears.
9) Road trips
Do you know what's kind of awesome? Setting your cruise control to 110km/hr and listening to your favourite music while you drive down one of the straightest highways in the world. I forgot how much I missed this!
10) Feeling Prepared
Last summer, when it was time to return to work at the end of August, I felt incredibly overwhelmed. I didn't feel like I was even close to a full recovery, and I was concerned that I was not physically or mentally strong enough to return to work. Upon returning, while everyone discussed their exciting summer holidays in the office, I felt completely ripped off that my summer "holidays" were not "holiday-like" at all.
This summer, although I thoroughly enjoyed the time-off of, I feel ready to get back to work. I feel energized, relaxed and mentally prepared to tackle another school year and speech pathologize like a pro! And that's the whole point of summer holidays, right?
Cheers to a wonderful summer! Love to all my Canada friends and family. Cayman...soon come.
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