Vancouver City Girl

I recently returned from a trip to central British Columbia to visit two of my sisters and their families, living in two different towns.  My daughter and I made the trip together and we were gone for about ten days in total.

 

We had good time visiting and playing with various aunts, uncles, cousins and dogs.  We were lucky to have the opportunity to visit some heritage sights and be tourists, which was great fun.  The weather was wonderful and we spent most of our time swimming, sunning and relaxing.

 

I wasn’t actually missing Vancouver too much while we were away, as the trip was just over a week long.  But I had that special “I’m so thankful I live in Vancouver” moment the day after we returned.  It was raining the Saturday we returned home, a welcome bit of moisture and cooling temperatures after several weeks of hot and very dry weather.  The next day we went to a birthday party for one of my daughter’s good friends at a large indoor pool/water park on the east side of Vancouver.  We had a great time.  After the party some friends offered to give my daughter a ride home with them, as they live a few blocks from us.  There wasn’t room in the car for me, so I took transit home.

 

I took a bus to the closest Canada Line station and then caught the subway to the Yaletown stop.  I got off and stood waiting for a bus to take me up to the end of Davie Street, where I planned to pick up some sushi for dinner on my way home.  People were all around me, walking their dogs, meeting friends at Starbucks, walking toward the park or the seawall with their kids, just enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon in the middle of summer.  As I stood waiting for the bus, listening to my mp3 player, that special feeling washed over me.  I was so happy to be back in Vancouver, that I could not keep the stupid grin off my face.  It always happens after I return from a trip, especially one to small towns or a rural area.  I never know when or exactly what will bring it on, but it’s always within the first two days of returning to the city.

 

Several times on my trip, one of my sisters would introduce my daughter and me to one of their friends, and they would ask where in Vancouver we lived.  When we said “Right downtown, just off Stanley Park” they just about always replied with “Oh, I’m sorry for you”.  I guess some people just can’t imagine how great it is to live in a big city.  No, don’t feel sorry me.  I live in one of the most beautiful, livable, amazing cities in the world, and I sometimes I still can’t believe I call it home.