Love that western hospitality..

Wow! What a great weekend. For the labor Day long weekend I traveled west to visit my Mom out in Alberta. I moved back to Toronto in 2000 after spending 6 years or so in Calgary, Mom stayed out there since she fell in love with the Western Canadian culture (or was it a cowboy???) anyhow... Mom and I are great friends and strange as it is, the distance has made us even closer. I haven't gotten to see her much over the years, a visit here and there when she was in Ontario, and I've only ever heard of this great town of Okotoks that she calls home.

So- when the opportunity presented itself.. off to Alberta I go!!!

Friday night she picked me up at the airport and took me allllll the way out to Okotoks. The drive isn't all that long thanks to minimal traffic and highway overpasses- but man-o-man... she's definitely outside the city alright. We stayed up into the night talking, catching up and she showed me all around the homestead. It was SO GREAT to be in my Mom's house. It really is a Mom's house. There are trinkets, and memorabilia of years past all over! and of course, most importantly- pictures of me!!! Mom and I have moved a lot- so seeing all this stuff made me feel like there was a "base camp" for all the memories we've created together over the years.
It was awesome.

The next morning, Mom and Jack (Mom's onion chopping, olive oil using, jokester and chef extrodinaire boyfriend) were already up and att'em making breakfast in the kitchen. Apparently they're used to the trains that pass ridiculously close to the house NON_STOP through out the night. One of them- probably the one at 6am- I could swear actually passes THROUGH the house.. Anyway, by the time I got upstairs, Mom was already cracking the eggs and I was treated to breakfast in my PJ's!! MMMMMM Breakfast!




Mom and I had a full day planned. First portraits at Walmart! Why is this so exciting? It's not.. it's just really exciting that Okotoks now has a WALMART!!! Then it was off for a surprise massage that Mom booked for me. She thinks I've been working too hard this summer and my body needed the rest.. who am I to argue? She's the Mom.

Then it was off for a trip down memory lane:

First we went to our old community to see our first house that we lived in. It's changed SO MUCH since I left- it's unreal! We were about to get out of the car and take some pictures when the new owner of the house showed up! Mom of course felt weird about taking pictures of someones house (even though it's reallllly our house) so she went up to introduce herself. WOULDN"T YOU KNOW IT- the lady remembers her! She invited us in and gave us a full tour of our old house. She even showed me the cartoon drawings in permanent marker that she's STILL trying to cover up on the walls in my old bedroom.. LOL.. silly teenagers.. what was I thinking?

Here on the driveway I can still see my initials SL in the corner of the driveway. I was there the day the cement was poured! You probably can't see them.. but I can.. and that's all that matters.



We also visited my old high school.. lots of memories here... well... mostly I remember that I spent a lot of time AT school, I just probably could have spent more time IN class.. but hey- I made it through. Good times at EP Scarlett..





After the trek down memory lane, Mom took me out to Black Diamond, a town 15min even FURTHER into nowhere than Okotoks. There is a 6km trail that connects Black Diamond to the next town called Turner Valley. This was the perfect path for a run. Here I am running in the hills!




Well after that long day, I was pooped. I had to call it an early night- tomorrow we were off to Banff! We headed an hour north to Banff and I got to do my long run of 12km this week through AMAZING trails in the mountains. It was incredible. The altitude made my body have to work extra hard, but it was worth it. How lucky am I? Here I am afterwards enjoying the view at Elbow Falls.



We had a great day. After my tough run, I figured I deserved an Ice Cream and Mom and I trekked into town and strolled, and shopped and got coffee and ice cream. Here's me in Banff!



It was a long day. Thank god Mom still had the energy to drive home. I enjoyed the scenery and just sat back and relaxed. Here's what the drive into Okotoks looks like at sun set. It's actually really pretty.



On Monday, Mom took me for a great bike ride down by the river. She's got these really old bikes that are actually kinda cool. Life sure moves slower in this little town. I couldn't think of a better way to spend my last day out west. We took our time riding, chatted a bit and just enjoyed the day. On our way home, Mom took me to see some of the really old houses in Okotoks that the locals have turned into antique shops etc. Here's Mom giving me a bike tour.. she'd be a great bike tour guide.. maybe an option for a retirement hobby???



Of course while Mom's being so attentive and proudly showing off her quaint little neighborhood.. here's me being a ham behind her.

You can take the girl out of the city, but...



Anyhow, it was a GRRREAT weekend. I love my Mom SO MUCH! I can't wait to go back again. Thanks so much to Mom and Jack for having me come out and pampering me in your home!

This weekend is my last Triathlon of the summer. Hopefully all that mountain running will do me some good! I just found out that I'm on the Leader Board for the series! I'm in thrid place in the Ontario Women Triathlon Series in the Sprint Triathlon! WOO HOOO! YEY ME!

Until next time...