Wild Rose Coloured Glasses

When she was born 26 years ago, Ron said that we would share her. My hopes of becoming a Mom had been dashed and Ron generously extended a mothering partnership after delivering tiny Althea. It was a relationship that has persisted, despite years apart now, so when Althea announced her wedding plans, there was no question that we had to be witness to her special day.

When we left Calgary 18 years ago, we left behind a professional and emotional history that weighed us down tremendously. However, we also left good friends, especially Ron, Ted and their kids, successes, a home and a love of the landscape that Alberta is so well known for. But the work environment was no longer consistent with our patient centred philosophies and with heavy hearts, we moved on. So each visit back has reminded us of these losses.

We resettled in my hometown located in Southern Ontario. It was a climate and environment much more consistent with our lifestyle and the opportunity to work together towards a common goal was inherent in our decision. I grew up here and moving home allowed me to spend a few years with my ailing Mum before her passing. So despite our occasional pangs of longing for the mountain scenery, and our good friends it has been a decision that makes us happy every day.

On the occasion of Althea and Ben's wedding, we began the journey back to Alberta so our kids could experience the tremendous natural landscape that we had taken for granted as residents...the Rocky Mountains. We stayed with Ron and her great family for most of the visit but we were able to take a couple of days to venture up to Canmore and Banff to revisit our favourite haunts, do a little hiking and feel some of the Alberta hospitality.

It was a visit that allowed Tony and I to heal...we became tourists and enjoyed the cool mountain air, hikes along the mountain paths and lakes, appreciated the architecture of the mountain homes and joked that our home remodel would fit right into any of the Canmore neighbourhoods. Lil and Grace however, slept through most of the car rides and had their best times playing with Veronika's dogs and feeding the horses. This of course was followed by the inevitable question: "Daddy can we have a pony?" It was the first wedding they had attended and watched in awe while sitting on bales of straw as Althea pledged herself to Ben and then rode horseback to the wedding reception in her parents back yard.

We were happy to get home but for once left Alberta with only fond memories of the people and places we continue to love despite the miles between us.