Yes I can / Valdy / 1976

A Week  on ‘The Island’

We’re back from a  week on “The Island”.
Vancouver Island.
Around here when you say “The Island”
everybody knows what you’re talking about.
And if you’ve ever been there you know that
Vancouver Island is a piece of paradise.
That’s why a lot of folks here retire to ‘The Island’.

When we got back to Calgary we were pretty tired.
I often used to joke that I worked harder on vacation than I did at at work.
It’s true.
All the walking, hiking and exploring can wear you out.
Especially when you’re 73 years old.
30 years ago that wouldn’t have even made me sweat.
But those times are gone.
In all this, Rose and I took over 2000 photos.
It’s an old Photojournalism trick – take a absolute ton of pictures –
one or two are bound to be useful.
And thanks to digital technology you can do that these days.
In the past the film would have cost us a fortune.
A lot of our photos are just tourist quality fare though,
but we still came up with a few good shots to show.

Flew out. We only had a week and to drive from
Calgary to Tofino would have taken a whole day.

Calgary To Victoria: https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.7213336,-116.4069041,6.51z
It takes about and hour and a half to fly over.
Land at Victoria Airport (up the peninsula).

Take a boo.

Rent a car …

… head for Tofino.

It  takes about 4 and a half hours – if you don’t stop.
We were off and running …

Heading for Vancouver Island for a Week.

Kind of a teaser Holiday.
But it’s going to be good.
Won’t be able to post much likely.
Sorry.
But we will take a ton of photos.
Unless I drop my camera in the creek again.

See you soon.

Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi Theme | Kenobi Series Unofficial Soundtrack

Another production I’ve been eagerly awaiting.
It’s been postponed a lot as well.

BUT that’s not always a bad thing.
Because many productions are released before they are finished.
The delays have given them time to refine their products.
Some have even undergone massive re-writes;
changed Directors; and Casting …

Wikipedia says:
Ewan McGregor is set to reprise his role as a Jedi master in Obi-Wan Kenobi, a live-action series for Disney+ set between the end of the prequel trilogy and the start of the original trilogy. The TV series will consist of six one-hour episodes. It was announced that Hayden Christensen would return as Darth Vader in the series and that it would be set ten years after the events of Revenge of the Sith. 

At the very least we’re given a lot of great posters/artwork.

A lot of these are not Official Posters – but some wonderful fan art.

This is looking like some fun too.

I think that Miracles happen around us all the time.
I miss most of them. Or dismiss them. Or discount them.
Or rationalize them away. ” It was just a coincidence”, I say.
Yet I’ve learned there is no such thing as coincidence.
Everything happens for a reason.
We just have to figure it out.
Sometimes it’s obvious – no need to intellectualize things.
Often not.
I call these Small Miracles.
Where no ‘seas are parted’ – no ‘mountain are moved’.
They are just there. And usually very private.
Between you and God.
Therefore important.
Not small at all.
At times a Small Miracle can be ‘life changing’.
An opportunity.
Missed – or Taken.
A missed relationship? – or a job? – sometimes a warning …
Not small at all.
I’ve had my share.
I bet you have too.
And in looking back I can see many that I missed.
We all do.
Many I just simply didn’t recognize in the moment.
Others just don’t fit in my little shoebox at that time. My Reality.
My consciousness.
So I dismissed them. Or missed them entirely.
Failed a test?
I look back now – as far as my childhood.
Tests?
Opportunities?
Gifts?
I’m sure I could have passed most any Test,
but I usually chose the easy way out.
And failed.
It was usually my courage that let me down.
I wasn’t ready.
Or wise.

‘Weighed and found wanting’ is the expression.
I was ‘blindsided’ – and blind.
Sometimes they came at me from an angle I didn’t even know existed.
I didn’t understand. Until later.
Too late?
And I wish I could go back …

I wonder now how my life might have been different?

BUT …
Sometimes we do get it right. We  do make the right decision.
Choice.
And do the courageous thing.
And Pass the Test.
These are some Triumphs and Victories.

Thankfully.

But as I think about it all this …
I’m just very grateful that someone – or something – considers and cares about enough about me to offer me such chances. Such choices. Opportunities. Gifts.

Even if I fail.

Just a couple of days ago a ‘Small Miracle’ happened to me.
I was playing a computer game called The Division 2.
My character is “Old Kanuk” and I was exploring
a huge map of Washington DC.
‘Free roaming’ we call it.

I came across an underground parkade.
And decided I’d go down and look around.
Who knows what I might find?

I found this:

Yeah.
One of Vincent Van Gogh’s most famous self-portraits.

And since I’m in the middle of creating several Posts about Van Gogh
on my Blog I was very pretty amazed.
But I REALLY have to wonder at what the odds of discovering this are ?
I didn’t even know it existed in this game and I wasn’t looking for it.

I could have been in a thousand other locations on this map
and never discovered this at all. Ever.
And I’d say that if did know it existed in this game and were actually looking for it, your chances of finding it would be extremely remote.
Nothing is impossible, of course, but this would be a candidate.

Yet there it was.

No, this is not a life changing event.
But why … ??
I’ll just call it a Gift.

Thanks.
I needed that.

Small Miracles.

Vincent (Starry Starry Night)
Sung by Lianne La Havas – written by Don McLean

“I would rather die of passion
than of boredom.”

Beyond Van Gogh

The first room was a montage of moving images accompanied by music.
I wondered at the 2 doorways?
But the images flowed around them like water.
Most of my photos here were so poor  I borrowed  a few from YouTube.

I couldn’t believe the couldn’t find a better way to display this.

The two doorways?

I hope this will give some impression of the first part of this exhibit.

” … What is done in Love is done well. “
– Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent – written and performed by Don McLean

Pictures at an exhibition:

Beyond Van Gogh

I dream of painting and then I paint my dream.

“A great fire burns within me, but no one stops to warm themselves at it, and passers-by only see a wisp of smoke”

I know … I know. Nobody wants to read all that.
Be patient. The best is yet to come.

Circle / Harry Chapin

I remember when you could get a coffee for 25 cents
– with unlimited refills.

I stopped by to ‘gas up’ the other day.
Thot I’d buy a Coke.
The guy said “That’s $2.87.”
I was too stupid to refuse.

Crazy …
I remember when a Pop was 5 cents.
And you’d get 2 cents back for the bottle.

And I could go to a Saturday Matinee for 25 cents.
that included a pop – and popcorn.

And the Movie Theatres were palaces.

And just going there was something special.

And the movie would scare the pants offa me.

And “Gee Whiz!” was the strongest profanity you’d hear.

If only …