How do you define beautiful? I worry that the definition has become too small, or that we allow our perceptions to be programmed by media and advertising. Beauty is a gift, identified by the way it stirs deep feeling – like joy, but also sadness, sorrow. And it can sneak into the most commonplace moments and unexpectedly. This last post about of our road trip is given to beauty found by us in unexpected places on this last leg. You may not find all of this beautiful, but we do.
This trip was overall, abundantly joyful, more than we expected it to be. We had a few hiccups of course. We were quite prepared to turn around if it didn’t work — and we didn’t have to. What we had to do to make things work was well within the parameters of normal life for the Archers: high tailing it out of a situation as it unravels (specifically, the removal of someone’s clothes in inappropriate places!), a well placed Ativan when nothing else would work, and the willingness to change plans, not hold things too tightly, take joy in the small things, like everyone had breakfast today – that’s a win.
Caleb’s big breakfast 
Coffee Hero!
Our Family splurge, made possible by a fabulous program called ACCESS 2 ENTERTAINMENT – sponsored by Easter Seals, allows those who support individuals with Developmental Disabilities entrance without charge, to a wide range of venues across the country. Thank you Easter Seals! Our choice of Venue: The Calgary Zoo (a childhood favourite of mine).
Our favourite part though was an unexpected desire that both Caleb and Emma had at the same time — to ride the Carousel. These two rarely enjoy the same activity, their personalities are totally opposite and so their interests are too — usually.
The theme of our summer has been – try! While trying, we’ve discovered that this shy, unassuming posture is surprisingly spunky and tenacious like the tortoise of the Tortoise and the Hair fable. John and I joked in the car, that this kind of family holiday is only 15 years behind schedule! Slow and steady, we made it to the finish line.
You can never plan for misadventure, but should always be prepared nonetheless. Just as we were approaching the Kicking Horse Bridge on the Trans Canada Home, traffic came to a complete stand still.
What else can you do but write a poem? I post it here as a reminder of just what you can enjoy when life doesn’t quite go to plan.
Forced Sightseeing
Gridlock
on a mountain Highway
is like an unrehearsed scene
from La La Land, the movie…
not choreographed properly
but people still tumble out of cars
to mingle with perfect strangers,
which is like a chorus and dance. Gossip
skips up through two-plus kms
of vehicles – that we can see!
The news is never good: an accident,
a fatality – it might be two more hours!
We gasp, moan and then improvise:
dig out some chips from the hatch,
while others start a word game
or stroll up the highway
on what is now really a promenade
stretching across the Kicking Horse River
which is spectacular! — Well,
I always wanted to take
a closer look anyway.2019, Laurel Archer
Featured Photo: I discovered this little sprig of Yarrow that stuck to our car, making sure we were anointed with beauty even when we weren’t aware of it — it’s what sticks that matters — all the memories that will now be ours from this Archer summer adventure. Thanks for joining along on our adventure. It was good to have the company.
Thank you Laurel! I enjoyed your holiday very much❤️