Saturday, June 23, 2007

It's interesting to be back in cowtown again. There's not so much "cow" in the "town" anymore, nor is it even really a "town" anymore. It has grown a little more metropolitan. A little more diverse. There are mixed feelings. I feel like I've never left, like things are exactly the same. Yet, so much as happened that I feel like entire worlds have passed me by. I'm still trying to reconcile these paradoxical sentiments.
I think the thing I've missed most about Calgary are the people, how friendly they are. It's so comforting once again to be able to have a long conversation with a complete stranger in the drug store or, like on Thursday, with the owner of a jewelery store. I'd noticed that he was playing a Christian radio station (yes, they have those here) over the speakers in his store and we spent the next half hour talking about the Christian faith and what it meant to us. The bus drivers are so jolly and wish everyone a nice day. The sales clerks are genuinely friendly and make small talk about things other than whatever they're selling. Calgary is beautiful in its people.
I played beach volleyball in Millenium Park with a bunch of friends today, in a rainshower. Another unique feature of Calgary: living at the foot of the Rockies does things to the weather. It was hot and dry yesterday, desert weather. Then today sunny but cold, sweater weather. And a random cloud had decided to cover only the downtown area where we were playing volleyball so amidst a big blue sky the one dark cloud was raining on our game.
It feels so familiar to be sitting in small group with old friends yet so disconcerting to be caught up on the change that has taken place. The marriages and disappearances and breakups and makeups and all the drama that has gone on over the last four years. It's good to be walking downtown where the people are relaxed and laid back with a ready smile on their faces.
It's good to be back.