To be able to do what you love and love what you do. To be able to be true to who you are. To be able to find joy in the simplest things. To be able to see good in others. To be able to put yourself in others' shoes. To be able to laugh everyday in good company. I envy you Dena. Curiosity doesn't kill the cat, the cat has 9 lives because of its curiosity.
North Shore Triathlon. I was packing up my stuff in a transition area when I noticed a lady next to me took some pictures with her phone. I offered her assistance, "You want me to take picture of you and your bike?" "Oh no, thank you," she replied cheerfuly, "This is my girlfriend's spot and look how messy it is. Her stuff is all over the place. Just like at home. I'm showing this to everyone." She laughed. I offered her consolation, "Well at least she is being consistent. You have to give her credit for that." LOL
I asked Dena to come with me to North Shore Triathlon in North Vancouver. I saw it as an opportunity to rub off a little tri bug on her. She saw it as an opportunity to hang out with her best friend Dee. She brought a hammock from home and hang it between two gorgeous tall trees near transition area. They slept, talked, munched and repeat in the hammock through the swim, the bike and the run leg. Okay, almost. They did wait for me at the finish line and gave me the biggest and warmest congratulatory hugs ever. I guess the apple fall far so far away from the tree when it comes to multisports & cats. :-)
One cloudy and cold Monday Morning. North Shore Triathlon. As I was approaching the finish line a male announcer said over a loudspeaker, "And here comes another finisher. Let's welcome this young lady, number 382.... Dewi!" I ran even faster to the finish line with my hands up in the air. Not so much because I made it to the finish line but more because I was a young lady for a second. LOL. And then to top it off he continued, "... from Jakarta! She came all the way from Indonesia for this triathlon!" Woohoo! \(^_^)/
One lovely cloudy and windy Thursday afternoon. I was admiring Human Structures Vancouver, a galvanised steel sculpture by Jonathan Borofsky, in Hinge Park when this brown retriever dog came up to me, dropped a ball from its mouth in front of me and just sat there looking at me with his tongue out, gleaming eyes, and wagging tail. Oh Joy!
One lovely cold Wednesday night. Over dinner I told Dena that bad things in life are unavoidable (and yes even people you love is capable of causing you pain). What people say about you or how people treat you are out of your control. The only thing in life that is in your control is how you react to bad circumstances. Bitter or Better? Later after we said goodbye and went our separate ways I found out that my bike's front light was stolen! God has a wicked sense of humour. I laughed out loud. Lesson learned indeed.
I've only been here for two weeks and I've had strangers converse with me more than I've had back home for a whole month. A sweet elderly man when I run, a guy in Starbuck, a young boy and girl in a park, a female swimmer in Hillcrest Aquatic Center, a very tall guy on a sidewalk, a classy lady and her daughter in an elevator, a man in a book store, an older man at a stop sign, a cyclist guy on a bike path, a lady and her dog in Granville and a middle age woman in a movie theatre. Vancouver. Connecting people.
While some people back home busy arguing about what's right or not right with other people's ethics; some people here in Vancouver are learning to treat others with respect, empathy and kindness regardless what principles they adopt in their life. A self challenge: Can I agree to disagree and still be nice & kind with others? Who am I to judge? Hillcrest Aquatic Center's changing room: Woman. Man. Universal.
She wore a ripped denim overalls, a wool beanie hat, and carried a skateboard. After dinner she took me to a park to play swing. She said it's the tallest swing in Van city and if you go up high enough you can see the mountain. She is soon to be 22. She is the epitome of George Bernard Shaw's quote: We don't stop playing because we are old, we grow old because we stop playing. I should get on a swing more often ;-)
One fine Tuesday in Hillcrest Aquatic Centre, Vancouver. The woman changing room was a big open area with DIY lockers. There were no closed cubicle to change! Yikes! I have to be naked in front of these people? Anyone who knows me can tell you that I'm a very private, reserve, and introvert-ish kind of person. So there I was putting all my stuff in my locker, feeling rather awkward and uncomfortable when a naked elderly lady, walked into the changing room and went into her locker like it was business as usual. Fine! If she could do it, I could do it too. I swear it felt liberating to be naked in front of strangers; to be comfortable in my own skin. Literally & figuratively. I should be more naked :-D
One fine Friday. Cycling the coastline of Vancouver. Handsome landscape. I was slowing down to stop and take picture for a thousandth time when a white male cyclist passed me and yelled, "HEY, APA KABAR!" How did he know I'm... oh right. My jersey!
Dena: Ok meet me at the starbucks on broadway and cambie. It should be easy to bike there. its all downhill Me: Haha I can tackle uphill. That's an insult! Dena: But you can also take the train that heads to waterfront and stop at broadway. Hahaha I'm just saying get there fast Me: I rather bike Dena: Cause I'm taking the train. Alright lets race then. Lol. {To set the record straight I got there first. Sure Dena, you had stuff to do. Haha ;-)}
One lovely Wednesday night. Same coffee shop. I rode my bike there and walked in with my helmet on. I was looking at its salad selection when a guy said, "Healthy choice!" I smiled and said, "Yeah!" And just like that we had a great conversation about Vancouver, cycling, life & fish. Tall, handsome, brown hair (I think), charming, twinkling eyes. (Single) Ladies be my guess! He is quite a catch (no pun intended) ;-)
One lovely cold Wednesday night. Waiting at a coffee shop at Cambie & Broadway, Vancouver. A coffee date with my daughter. Last time I saw her was three years ago. She entered the coffee shop, paid her coffee and said hi to me. She didn't even asked me for money. It's weird but heart-warming to see her act like a responsible, self-sufficient human being. I need to wake up and smell the coffee!
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
