A Skewed View

Fortunately, Calgary does not suffer the moist, oppressive heat of a Toronto summer. For the times it aspires to do so, though, I offer you the most important lesson I learned while melting in the sickeningly-sticky, only-in-its-own-mind centre-of-the-Canadian-universe city: the humble sock is the answer you seek. (That, and the presence of wheels on an air conditioner the size of a small freezer should not categorize that unit as "portable".) Of particular salvation is this four-step sock system: (1) Soak socks in cold water so they are wet, but not dripping. (2) Put socks on feet (3) Dangle feet off couch or ottoman or bed so air can circulate around them (4) Feel heat being wicked away through your feet * Bonus points if you can point a fan at your dangling feet. (Stuffing your sports bra with sock-wrapped ice packs works well, to — but that wasn't learned until after I had moved to Calgary.)

If you think about it, the "20 Under 20" or "30 People Who Will Change the World" had a level path to their titles. It's simple to be remarkable when life hasn't had time to take its shot at you yet. If you're not at risk of buckling under the weight of decades of so close , or not quite , or holy crap what did I think was going to happen when I did that , then how far you can put one foot in front of the other doesn't impress me much. Show me someone who's spent more years than these list recipients were alive tripping over their dreams, especially if they never took the hint to stay down. That's the real motivational figure. I think this year might be mine for the taking. For my 55th time around the sun, I might finally get my ducks beak-to-tail, as they say. Of course, maybe I'm looking at one more year herding cats. Lord knows, I've been wrong before. But here's to not staying down... and birthday ice cream. Always birthday ic...

Almost three and a half years ago, I asked here if a 50-year-old can learn to paddle a dragon boat. Then COVID hit. So, truth is, yes: A 50-year-old can learn to paddle a dragon boat. She’ll just have to wait a couple years to actually get on the Glenmore Reservoir to do it. But, once there… well, it will work out quite nicely.  Two paddling seasons and five medals later, I'm itching for this weekend -- the  Calgary Dragon Boat Race & Festival  -- to begin!