Summer is the best time of year to fly off the rails a little. It’s so much less grounded than the other eight months of the year that the opportunity should not be lost.
I started my summer in an airport. I was traveling home to Calgary. I love airports, unlike most people I tend to be really relaxed waiting at the gate. Also, nine times out of 10 I fly alone so I like to take advantage of the time to myself. I wrote a list of things I wanted to do and accomplish on my baggage receipt paper, some things were even highlighted. Now that I think about it, I also stole a pen that day, whoops.
I lost that paper and pen a few hours after my flight and had forgotten about it until now. I think the list was suppose to focus on ways to be independent this summer, such as getting my driver’s license. After living away from home for so many months the hardest part of coming back is fitting in with the person I was in high school to the very different person I am now. Problem is, it’s not just me that changes during that time… everyone and everything else is completely new too.
The best advice I was given was two years ago, before I left Calgary for the first time. It was to make the most of the time I had left here because nothing would ever be the same again. It’s one of those things I’ve just carried with me, and luckily… I like things a lot better now.
Since my time at the airport, my summer has had a different mood on a daily basis, some days I just want to have fun, other times I want to try new things… in-between those points, I’m not thinking about “summer” at all, just life. Going to the Greek Festival, Turkish Festival and endless pancake breakfasts during Stampede were definitely my “have fun” and “try new things” moods. Those were pretty cool days. Oh, so were working at the Sun & Salsa Fest and Heritage Day.
On the simpler side of things, I learned how to drink a hot chocolate and drive at the same time last week, and I am definitely adding this to my list of accomplishments for the season. It’s definitely right up there next to actually getting my driver’s license.
After that I flew to Whitehorse to visit one of my best friends who is working there for the summer. I’m going to get my nose pierced next (not kidding). This is what I meant when I mentioned flying off the rails a little, doing things you don’t usually do. They don’t have to be this drastic, just so long as they matter to you. The point is to fill up the summer with new experiences and awesome stories to share in the fall. I have full month of movie/lunch dates, road trips and more time with friends planned out to enjoy this last month of summer. =)
My friend Mel and I on a boat in Whitehorse
