Speak from the Heart - Not from the Tongue

september 4/09

there is something so addicting about the ocean breeze. feeling it. hearing it. breathing it in. i find that everywhere i go it is slightly different. here, in nanaimo, it is like a soft kiss on the cheek as it grazes my skin - filled with the aroma of fish and seaweed. it is not salty like the ocean breeze of mexico and it not as warm as that of australia. it is, however, accompanied by the sound of seagulls along with the harmony of a construction crew working on a nearby building. the waves are minimal along the waters edge and, as such, the salty shores of nanaimo behave more like that of a lake rather than ocean. because of the calm waters, one can peer over the edge of the seawall and spot countless numbers of starfish resting in the shallow waters.

today is yet again another cloudy day with chance of showers. i am beginning to forget what its like to have the hot sun and bright blue sky. but that doesnt erase my automatic response to want to curl up and read a book on an overcast day such as this. i have to motivate myself to go and do something for the day which leads my thoughts to wonder just how long it takes a person to "get used" to the weather of western b.c.

i have chosen today to head on over to newcastle island. there is a 5 min ferry ride to get to the idealic provincial park and everyone ive talked to had said it was well worth it to go. surrounded by sandstone shorelines and sandy gravel beaches it was love at first sight for me. i started off by taking my camera to the shore under the docks to take pictures of the purple colored starfish hiding among the crevices. it was there i also discovered the tiny crabs living under any rock i disturbed. fortunately their first thought was to flee the scene rather than attach their small claws to my pedicured toes.

as i sit here now at my picnic table enjoying the view of douglas-fir and oak trees (thats right - i read the brochure) i can hear seagulls in the background, dropping their clamshells on the sandstone to get at the tasty treat inside. i find it wierdto think that fall is quickly approaching. there are already many leaves that have fallen to the ground. it makes me want to run to where its warm again. to where the concept of pants and long sleeves is a distant thought in the back of my mind. i am quickly reminded that that is in fact where i am going - provided i keep going.

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i have left newcastle island in order to check out the farmers market back in nanaimo. it has to be probably the smallest farmers market i have ever been to.there are only a handful of tents put up - but even still, there are a wide range of products to check out. fresh produce. jewellery. massages. art. jams and jellies. knitted clothing. the list goes on and the only thing i thought was worth my money was a smokey from the girl guides tent.

as i sit here and take it all in, i find that i am exhausted. i feel completely drained. i want to curl up and sleep forever and i dont know why. i hope i feel rested soon. hopefully its all just my change of pace again. my fingers are crossed.

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i have since left the farmers market for the comfort of the library. with the cheapest internet around town, comfortable chairs and an endless supply of books i figured it would be the perfect place to enjoy the afternoon. even still, my mind wanders in reflection of how my time at nanaimo is almost at an end. i will be checking out of my room "L" (room "L" for the "laid back lady" - as the guy told me when i checked in the purple turtle) to go catch the train that will take me to victoria. in many ways i feel as though my time here has ended too soon, but as i look around at all the leaves changing color and feel the crisp fall breeze on my face i know i can not stay much longer as it is. i do not want to be here for the cold. instead, i will go south with the birds and all the seniors heading to florida. haha.