What a great drive we had out here to Kelowna! Since we didn't get under way until noon on Thursday, the ice on all the highways had melted. It must have been wicked earlier in the day because every road we drove on was puddley wet and sand covered. We passed numerous ongoing snowploughs as they returned from digging out side road exits and farmers' driveways. We drove for a good 5 hours in the sandy wet and fog and our white car turned an interestingly textured ecru.
Staying with my parents overnight was good but also somewhat difficult as they seem to have aged so much since our last visit in September. It goes with the territory when you are 85 years old, but it is still sad to see it happening to two such active people who always had such a interest in so many things. The transition to a world of doctor appointments, lack of transportation and a certain loss of personal mobility has to be as depressing for them as it is for me to see them facing these age related realities.
The drive through the Rockies yesterday was delightful. There is so little traffic this time of year, the first snow etches the peaks and valleys, cut lines and crags of each mountain so clearly. Castle Mountain, located between Banff and Lake Louise Alberta, truly appears to be a turreted castle with the light coating of snow defining the edges of each slab of rock and each dip where the rock has eroded over time. Along Rogers Pass we drove into fog and over the course of a short distance we came across two fairly recent accidents: semi rigs that had turned over on their sides and smashed up against the side of the mountains when they lost control on the curves of the road in dense fog. We were fortunate to be able to pass the police cars, park ranger truck and ambulances before the narrow two lane highway was blocked in order to allow tow trucks to right the semis and pull them out of the ditches. The injuries to the drivers did not appear to be serious this time, so that is also good news. Now...if the good roads and reasonable early winter weather will just hold through next week for a safe trip home.....
I doubt we are going to see much sunshine this trip. We have driven through very little of it since leaving home. The sky is a leaden grey again today and rainfall is predicted. Tomorrow we may be driving through heavy rainfall on the way into Vancouver but it will be worth it to unload the 3 large boxes of dishes and silverware and other household goods at our son's place. He needs the items and I need to get rid of them!! Oh, and of course it will also be wonderful to see our son!!
This afternoon is the memorial service for my husband's mother. His sister is having a difficult time being back here and being in this building once again where her mother was living at the time of her death. My husband and I are staying in the same room we were in the week his mother left us but he is coping just fine with that. He will be leading this afternoon's gathering and I think he will do well speaking to the elderly rels and friends in attendance. Once this service is over then there are only the remains of the legalities to deal with, as well as the rest of the grieving process.
For myself it is still difficult to understand that she is gone, never to return. When my father in law passed away it was expected, not a huge surprise due to a health issue we knew could take him at any time. This is different somehow with the unexpected and relatively quick departure of my husband's mother...no time for preparation at all.
So we shall see how the afternoon transpires. Life is changing rapidly these days for all of us.
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