Going Home to Simplicity.

Last weekend I went home. I have lived in Alberta for 14 years now, but for me B.C. is still my home. I love the mountains, clear lakes, and the absolute feeling of self that I get when I am there. My foster parents have a big house on Lake Windermere. It is the house my foster mom was born in some 70 or so years ago. There have been major renovations to make it bigger and more modern, but the foundations and other features are still a part of the house. Here, life is as simple as it comes. That's what I like the most.

As I sit reading my electronic reader with my cell phone close by in case my kids need me, I feel out of place in this land of wonderful peace and serenity. There is appreciation for the little things everywhere. Their yard is full of bird houses and feeders. My foster mom counts and records every bird that comes to visit; Flickers, Red Poles, Pileated Wood Peckers, and even the simple Robin. She has done this for about 13 years now. Her and her eldest son often go on expeditions to count birds, butterflies and moths. They are as passionate about these things as they are about the land and other creatures in their area. The deer, however, can be annoying, as they cause a lot of issues in the community. I can't scare them easily from the yard. They look at me as if I am the one intruding. I suppose, if you really look at it, I am. They were here first. The 20 or so wild turkeys visiting the yard, don't scare at all. My foster dad goes out and "gobble, gobbles" right along with them, and they gather to him as chicks to a mother hen.

I eat a lot in the 3 days I am there as my foster mom insists. She thinks I work too hard, and work out too often, and eat too little. She fills me with home made jams, jellies, soups, pies, (made with berries we picked up in the mountains on my last visit) bread, and many other yummy desserts, and snacks. I eat three full meals a day compared to the one I am used to. They care for me and love me, and I for them as well.

I spent two of the 3 mornings I was there out with my foster brother. We have the same birthday, but I am a year older. On the first day, he takes me out in the bush for about 5 hours and we track a cougar and 2 wolves, moving in the same direction. There were signs of a kill close by, but we never saw it. I am constantly drilled on things of nature. What kind of tracks are these. . . and these? How many are in the group, and which way are they moving? Which way back to the truck? Which way back to town? We had 2 of his 4 cougar hounds with us, and the big question of the day was, "if you needed to kill and eat one of the dogs to survive, which one would you kill?" I chose the more chunky female, with the tumor of fat on her chest. To my foster brother, his dogs are as dear to him as my kids are to me. When asked the question, he says he would choose to kill and eat me, and save the dogs. He is a funny man!

Through all this I learned that wolves often walk in each others tracks when traveling in snow to conserve energy. When it looked like only one wolf at times, there were actually 2. To tell a cougar track from that of a wolf, look for the claws. Cougar's claws retract and don't show in the track, where a wolves claws stick out and so are noticeable in the track. A bear is lazy and drags his feet, and this is very easy to see in the snow. Coyotes tracks are tiny like a house cat. I messed up on the direction the rabbits were traveling, forgetting that their back feet come in front of the front feet when they hop. I love all this stuff and soak up every bit I can.

On the way back, we stopped by a small cabin to rest, and enjoy the absolute quiet. I love it here and don't want to leave.

The next morning we walked down into a canyon to look at some falls. The way down was slippery, and hard work going back up. The falls were beautiful, and very noisy. Then we walked in to see a small cave. I wanted so bad to go all the way in but it was dark and from the smell, we could tell that critters were in there. Next time I will bring a flashlight.

My foster brother is extremely passionate about the mountains here. He knows the area better than anyone, and he knows all about the animals that live here. The town consisting of only one street light is still too busy for my foster brother. He visits it as little as possible. He prefers the solitude of his house in the mountains. For me, this would be the life I desire. I don't like being in town either. When I am in the mountains, everything about me and who I am is crystal clear. I see myself for who I really am. Not sure why that is, but in the mountains I feel most like my real true natural self. The mountains scream at me, "this is who you really are!" In the mountains, I don't have to worry about the perception of others. The mountains accept me for who I really am.

I don't want to be here in Alberta, away from the mountains much longer. Soon, I think, it will be time for a change. Life away from the city is simpler. Through simplicity comes clarity; a clarity of thought, self, actions and direction. My other blog says I am a "seeker of tranquility and truth". In the mountains I find both. It is easy to find tranquility in peace and thought. It is easy to find truth. Not only of myself, but of God as well.