With my special needs brother off to Disneyland with my in-laws (are they the best or what?) we can uncommon opportunity to take a day trip to Banff. When we mapped it out, we realized we weren’t going to have a lot of time. We wouldn’t be able to leave Calgary until noon and would have to get back the next day by noon. We almost decided not to go. But I’m really glad we did. One of the things that’s so great about going away, even if it is just for a little while is that is really focuses your attention. You’re not distracted by the laundry or the internet. You don’t have to cook. And you have adventures together which is harder at home.
We went up Mount Norquay where they is a great view of the town of Banff and you can often see some mountain goats. We saw some this time at the bottom of the lookout point but they were too far away for Gordie to figure out what they were. On our way back down we drove past a deer. Gordie saw it all by himself. “I see a kangaroo!” We may need to spend a little bit more of our time at the North American part of the zoo.
In the evening we drove down by the golf course and saw a lot more “kangaroos” (this time they were elk). The boy is not easily dissuaded. This was the perfect time of day for elk watching. We also saw a little fox. Of course we had left our zoom lens at the hotel.
We went to Melissa’s for supper. Gordie really wanted a burger and fries. He was getting a little impatient for his dinner (quite honestly when we eat out we usually get fast food so waiting would be unusual) so I told him that when the lady came back he could tell her what he wanted for supper. While Stephen and I were talking Gordie (who has just turned 2) managed to turn around at get to attention of the hostess. We looked over and he was telling her he wanted a burger and fries and she was leaned over trying to understand him. We were so surprised!
Sometimes with so much going on, it’s hard to take the time to step back, relax and just enjoy each others company. But so many of my most treasured memories seem to be created that way.