PROMINENT in the photos of my trip to Alberta, and especially in the exploration of the Canadian Rockies (including a Skywalk at the Columbia Icefield), are my jump shots.
Shots, plural.
And when you piece everything together in social media, you could see that I’m virtually walking on air.
My feet aren’t touching the ground in 97% of my photos.
Because, Why not?
***
I like doing the jump shots.
The actual shoots can be frustrating and attention-grabbing.
I mean, I always attract a crowd when I jump to have my photos taken.
And why not?
I know that deep in those people’s heart are envy and/or admiration.
I mean, wouldn’t they like to be in my place?
***
The audacity, yes. The gall. The balls. The childishness. The 52-year-old refusing to be written off. The true joy. The exhilaration of doing something so daring. The triumph of the human spirit.
***
I know some people who refuse to smile at the camera.
And I respect their choices.
Their unhappiness and constipation.
Their proper decorum and poise.
I really hope that they look down on me for doing the crazy stuff.
Because, in the end, who is smiling in the photos?
Who is obviously having a great time?
Who is apparently living la vida loca?
***
At the Columbia Icefield, there were opportunities for the first-hand experience of the all-year round ice and snow of the Athabasca Glaciers.
The tour costs something like $120.
I wanted to go, even if I wasn’t dressed for the occasion.
But the people in my party didn’t want to spring bucks for it.
So, we ended up doing the Skywalk which was about $35 per person.
***
Now, I’ve done Skywalks in my life.
(Didn’t I do the Malahat SkyWalk on Vancouver Island a few days back?)
The one that I’m still in awe and excited about was the Grand Canyon Skywalk at Eagle Point in Arizona.
The Columbia Icefield Skywalk felt like meh to me.
But the group was happy, so I just decided to do some jump shots up there.
Unfortunately, no jumping was allowed on the glass bridge/floor.
***
We were back in Banff by the evening of Day 2.
All the local attractions were closed.
I mean, there were stores open up to 11 pm.
But who goes to Banff to shop?
Souvenir items, fine.
But jewelry?
Winter fashion?
***
I have to admit, though, that I enjoyed examining the gem stones and rocks.
And while I love the idea of Canadian gem stones, I just felt it was better to stick to diamonds.
And I don’t go to Banff to buy diamonds.
I don’t go anywhere to buy diamonds.
It has to be Van Cleef and Arpels!
***
On our last night in Banff, I ended up at High Rollers.
For drinks and men, of course.
It is a bar.
With almost half of it dedicated to bowling.
Some parties were bowling.
But I stayed at the bar.
Except when I joined some girls dancing their head off on the dance floor.
***
I got in the bar at 9:30, and I didn’t get a drink until 15 minutes later.
That’s how busy it was.
Or, maybe it was that busy because there’s a new mandate for a liquor ban after 10 pm.
Anyway, I ended up with a fishbowl cocktail because it was so loud, and so busy, and was almost last-order time, that the bartender wasn’t very keen on preparing my special drinks.
***
I just wanted a Midori sour.
They didn’t have it.
I wanted a Tokyo Ice Tea.
The bartender didn’t have any idea what it was.
So I just said, Give me something with alcohol before the clock strikes 10.
He gave me a “fishbowl.”
***
Fishbowl is rum and something.
Blue Curaçao would have made it more fishbowl-y.
But I guess they were out of curaçao, too.
So I ended up with a bloody fishbowl.
With something red in it—cranberry juice?
***
I can forgive the drink because the DJ played great party music.
And I danced to it.
And I attracted a few good men.
And it was a good night.
And it broke my bar drinking drought that started with the pandemic.
I mean, who would have thought that it would happen in Banff?
How crazy is that —
I broke my bar fast in Banff!/PN
