Dear Emma, White Rock, B.C.(troibun) i i

(C)Clr’18

Dear Emma, May 29th White Rock, B.C.

Walking along the beach, I checked the time and realized there was over 3 hours before sunset. So, I stopped at a café, a friend suggested, Whitby’s Café. They have coffee, pastries and gelato. It seems there are at least a dozen ice cream parlours on Marine Drive. I sat with my coffee and relaxed entranced by the ocean view across the street.

It has such a friendly and “small town” affect here. I rested for almost 30 minutes, sipping my coffee and then I walked a bit more west. I found a place to sit and lean my back on the cement. I watched people arriving after their day job, to catch a few hours on the water, kayaking, fishing or just sitting on the beach and chilling and watch the sun set.

I sat there for awhile and let the sea take me in. I was in a quieter area with less people traffic, so it was easy to just drift off and be in the moment. Later, I started walking back East, hoping to find a quiet place for dinner. I had walked up an appetite for sure! It was a long day, walking over 2 km just in the airports! I did a total of 11 km for my first day!

Most of the places I passed were buzzing with patrons and many couples…I needed to be in a calmer place and then I noticed one place that seemed more inviting. The terrace was almost in front of the pier and one patron smiled at me and said, “Come on in, you won’t regret it.” And so I did and when the waiter came out, I recognized her and realized this is the exact place I came to last year on my first night in White Rock. What a coincidence!

I had mussels in a coconut and curry bouillon with cilantro and a local fruity beer from Delta. I happened to have that same beer last year too. A family passed by and right in front of the entrance one of the toddlers set herself on the sidewalk having a tantrum. I felt bad for the mom who was trying to not make a scene. The couple across from me, said, “Well, we’ve all seen that before.” And we got to chatting. They were from Clearwater, BC near Kamloops. They seemed so nice and it looked like they were out on a spontaneous couples’ getaway. I asked them if they wanted me to take a photo of them. Their phones had died, so I used my phone and gave it to the woman to forward to herself. They were so sweet and I learned more about the beauty of their neck of the woods. Maybe next year, I might consider flying to Vancouver and renting a car to drive up north for four to five hours. Apparently the view is worth the road trip.

Walking home, I felt bad that the sunset had been hidden by the clouds but the sky was turning magenta all around me. I took a few more pics and I still could not get over all the gelato places on the way home. I finally gave in on the last place and got a chocolate pistachio gelato. It was pure bliss!

Twilight serenade
Rolling waves kiss the shore
My feet tingle

Twilight serenade
Seagulls gliding
Singing off-key

Rolling waves kiss the shore
Bowing
to the setting sun

My feet tingle
Waves rolling back
Into my childhood

This was written May 29th but I did not get around to post it.

Dear Emma, we have arrived! (Haibun)

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Dear Emma (haibun)

Dear Emma,

It is 7:20 AM and I am waiting at the airport. Of course I got here 2 hours ago. I know, I know, I get here way too early but I probably saved $10.00 in taxi fare due to no traffic at 5:00 AM, it gave me time to have a nice breakfast (Fritatta and fresh fruit) and of course I brought my coffee a blend of decaf and espresso. So getting here that early, I can do my thing before going through security since I cannot bring my coffee (liquids).I brought a small water bottle this time so if I get stuck at security and notice there is a bit left, I can chug it down so they don’t confiscate another water bottle! [Do I sound still bitter from my March trip? Well, I am!]

The ride here was amazing…the moon looked so full and it was still very bright at 5AM! I tried to catch a photo but it did not do it justice so just imagine a pale blue and pink sky and a pale round moon with splotches of grey.

I am headed West and apparently it is almost 10 degrees cooler! Who would have guessed. As we say here in Québec, “C’est le monde viré en enver”. In San Diego, forecasting 16C and 24C in Montreal…weird!

I have not slept all night as I started packing at 10pm. And of course I packed and unpacked 3 times to make sure I was bringing ONLY what I needed. I had started out packing my new capri pants but with the weather that cool, may as well stick to jeans, leggings and long skirt.

Poor Bette knew I was leaving…I had set out 5 bowls of food in a larger bowl with water to prevent ants from climbing in. Water bowls placed here and there and two fans in the dining room and living room to circulate the air. I had reserved the taxi at 4am, so I could sit with my cuppa and comb Bette, then pet her over and over and over. She soaked it all up since she knows I will be leaving. I did feel a bit guilty but fortunately, my son will be passing by almost every day. He teaches 5 minutes form my home, so Bette should be thrilled since she does prefer men!

I look forward to my trip this year…relaxing, spiritual and peaceful. Hopefully being by the ocean, will reenergize me for six weeks until my next vacation.

Checking a list
Making sure to bring
Necessities
Check, check and double check
Just bordering O.C.D.

Emerald eyes
Study with scrutiny
Pleading not to leave

Dear Emma, May 21/18 ( haibun)

Dear Emma,

I finally got off my fanny and went out to do a few errands today. After three days of resting, icing several parts of my body, it was time to move or else it will be worse for me. I found 5 fun exercises to strengthen my calves, knees and thighs. I did a few today but have to check that video since I don’t know them by heart yet.

I walked to my pharmacie first but when I approached and noticed not ONE car in the parking lot, I realized that it is a holiday today. But of course [she slips her forehead with her hand] it is la Fete des Patriotes or for outside of Quebec it is May 24 or Victoria weekend. Regardless on what you want to call it, it is the first long weekend where many people drive out to cottage country. Some go camping and I remember in Toronto there were amazing fireworks but there are none here in Quebec. Since Quebec changed the name of the holiday to Patriots Day, you would think they could celebrate that at least…but what do I know.

I decided to walk over to Super C which is a much cheaper grocery store than Metro and picked up more than a few things since they are finally getting a good selection of organic food as well as gluten free products as about 30% cheaper than Metro. So I will walk that extra 1 km for sure now. I had to stop piling things in my basket figuring. How much would fit in my 2 bags and backpack.

Walking a bit slower back, I stopped in front of Mikes Restaurant thinking they would be closing soon as in the winter they often closed at 8pm due to lack of customers. Well, to my delight it is busy and so here I am typing a little message to Emma, sipping my Belgian Moon and waiting for my seafood poutine! Okay, so it is not too healthy but it IS gluten free [she chuckles to herself].

Tomorrow I have an appointment with my podiatrist for my achy toe and feet, then off downtown Montreal to my first appointment with a new chiropractor. I am told she has a holistic approach and I am praying she can treat me for my knees and perhaps my shoulders and neck too. Anything is better than what my GP is doing …which is nothing.

Gotta go now and finish my savoury dinner. Thanks for listening, Emma

twilight dinner
savouring seafood delights
sipping Belgian Moon

P S for you newbies who do not know who Emma is, she is my personal journal I have been writing to for the past five years on another blog.

the month of Mary (haibun)

Image result for lovers in the woods — **https://goo.gl/images/Hw3fRj**

Every year it is the same feeling. Some years that mood may last longer or shorter but still it presents itself the same way. It started as a child and grew more intense and “real” when she was a young adult. Something about springtime reminds her of a saying she told a bunch of girlfriends from the CLSC in Richelieu at la cabane à sucre in Saint Grégroire, “Ah le temps est trop beau pour retourner au travail cette après-midi. Il me semble que j’aurais le gout de partir dans le bois avec le mari d’un autre.” And they laughed at the silliness and giddy with spring fever. At 30 something they felt like teenagers again.

And today as she smells the warm spring air and the rich scents of the earth, even in her sixties, she still feels a flutter in her chest.

Spring moves in
rousing dormant desires
naughty but nice
not akin
to le mois de Marie

©Tournesol`18/05/03

Related image — **https://goo.gl/images/UNw44W**

Written for Haiku Horizons and the prompt is “move”

Photo credits Google Image

Translation:

Cabane à sucre: Sugaring off Cabin

“Ah le temps est trop beau pour retourner au travail cette après-midi. Il me semble que j’aurais le gout de partir dans le bois avec le mari d’un autre.”Ah, the day is too beautiful to return to work this afternoon. I get the feeling I might want to take off in the woods with a married man.

le mois de Marie – month of Mary which is the month of May some Catholics still go to church every day to recite the rosary together.

Daily Moments May 3, 2018 – spring fever – Haibun

Image may contain: tree, plant, sky, flower, outdoor and nature — ©Clr`18/05/03

Image may contain: plant, flower, outdoor and nature — ©Clr`18/05/03

Aw spring is finally here! It feels so good to walk with lighter clothes, hear the birds chirping and watching the various degrees of growth on trees! How can we not forgive Mother Nature for her tardiness when we are quickly swept away with spring fever!

lilacs
in the lead
anxious to show off

tulips
trying to poke
their vibrant colours

birds excited
waiting for more shelter
leaves have yet to lend

lovers in a park
leaning on the old maple
stealing kisses

6 o’clock train (troibun)

Image associée — https://goo.gl/images/GntjJp

I grew up in the ‘50’s and lived by the train tracks where you would hear shunting of freight trains and whistles throughout the day. When I was first married, in the early 70’s my husband and I lived by the train station, again we too felt the vibration of the long cargo train especially late at night. Trains were a way of life in our small town and still, these freight trains impact and at times oppress the lives of the residents.

This reminds me of a typical day in the late 1950’s where shows like Father’s Knows Best was a popular television show…

cooking supper
window shakes
6 o’clock train

cooking supper
children whine they’re hungry
train whistles

window shakes
pot of stew boils over
shrill screeches

6 o’clock train
children squeal with joy
Daddy’s home!
(c) Tournesol’18

Written for Heeding Haiku with Chevrefeuille at MindLoveMiserysMenagerie

The above poem is a Troiku, a new form of haiku created by your host, Chevrefeuille. To know more about it, click here.

Mister Postman (troibun)

Last night she went on a journey into the past. She had discovered her late mother’s old love letter from 1969. She felt she was there next her mom, waiting for her to stop writing so she could go to bed. She was in her last year of high school. She slept with her mother in Grandmaman’s bedroom. Since her older sister was now living and working in Montreal, she no longer had to share the furnace…her old bedroom.

She remembers how her mother fell in love so quickly with her first lover after her parents’ separation…and she fell hard too! She recalls how part of her was worried and did not want her mother hurt; she was so fragile. Another part was jealous…well just a little since it had been her mother, her sister and her sister braving the world for so long. She remembers falling under his spell six months later because he was so good to her mother and treated her like a princess. Soon he became a proud father to her as well.

She read another set of letters mailed to her mother…all from her new lover. Such declarations of pure love. It warmed her heart. The last letter was dated April 30, 1969. Was this a coincidence to be reading these later exactly 49 years later to the day?

She wished she had kept her old letters from her first crush. She was only 13 and he was 17. It was so exciting waiting day after day for the mail to come. She also wrote letters to her best friend who spent the summer at her cottage by the lake. Time moved slower then. You had time to write five, six or ten pages to a friend. Not many could phone even of it was just 20 kilometres away. In those days long distance bills were very expensive and her mother and grandmother could not afford such luxuries! But still, it was a more romantic time…spending hours by the turntable listening to the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

Sitting on the porch
Waiting patiently
Mister Postman

Sitting on the porch
Watching butterflies
Kissing daffodils

Waiting patiently
Cat hides behind the bush
Eyeing his prey

Mister Postman
Carrying a bag of joy
P.S. I Love You