christmas on the houseboat

and other holiday tales

We’re a few days into 2024, I cut my bangs unreasonably short and I’ve been roaming the Pacific Northwest for two weeks! I completed my 32nd lap around the sun and Christmas happened (on the same day). Then New Year’s Eve - inspiration and infinite love spiralling about all the while. The time is ripe for a stream of consciousness update, as I still have a couple more weeks of adventuring ahead of me <3

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The Journey to Seattle:

My partner drove me through the foggy BC wilderness for an hour to take me to the local airport. I waited there for 2 hours, only to watch the plane I was supposed to board fly overhead, do a few circles and then leave. It simply did not land. This is common where I live, yet always infuriating since there’s only one flight out per day. I was all packed, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to fly to Seattle but instead I drove home (knowing I’d have to do it all again the next day).

The following morning, the flight was once again canceled last minute, but this time they arranged a bus for us. So rather than flying to Vancouver then Seattle as the plan was originally (what is a plan anyway) I hopped on a newly materialized bus to Kelowna. For four hours we climbed twisting mountain roads in December, windows cloaked in snow and fog. At least my giant grey headphones were fully charged and I was buzzing with exhilaration to be embarking on an adventure!

During my six hour wait in the Kelowna airport before I could fly to Vancouver (still a flight to Seattle after that, mind you) I became part of the bar at White Spot, making a new friend every hour. I met a businessman flying to California to visit his son for Christmas, a couple from Calgary who produces music, an eccentric older woman who yelled about the price of airport beer numerous times, and a pilot from small town BC who used to fly planes in Timor Leste. Someone shared their chicken nuggets with me and eventually it was my turn to fly!