As a kid I remember climbing most of the trees around our house and spending hours in them. Once I got wheels, as in a bicycle, I made my way all over our neighborhood. I spent most evenings and weekends cruising around on my bike. Once when we were visiting my Grandparents down in Washington at their RV park, my Grandpa pulled out an old moped. I was officially in love. I was probably 13 at the time. I thought it was the greatest thing ever. That is, until I got a speeding ticket. Apparently the speed limit was 15mph and I was doing about 35mph. Oops! I got pulled over by one of the campground security guards and I even got a little ticket. Legendary stuff really, a speeding ticket before I even had my license!
Once I got my first car, a brown 1984 Pontiac Sunbird (which I paid my uncle $800 for), I cruised all over Vancouver Island. I mean who doesn't drive for 2.5 hours to wish their friend a Happy Birthday and then drive home an hour or so later? Or the time Rob and I took the car out to Bamfield, a remote little town, only accessible by logging roads. That was our first day trip together and I'd like to think it was fairly memorable. Partially due to the fact that it was our first day trip together and partially because the car would stall whenever it felt like it or the brakes would go. You know, memorable things like that.
As I've aged (if you can call being 31 "aged"), I have tried to keep my adventurous spirit alive, but toned it down somewhat (for example, the brakes on our van work 99.99% of the time). Now even just a day trip to a new town is something I enjoy. Trying out local coffee shops, restaurants or seeing the sights that the locals see makes my day. Of course, these establishments and/or experiences aren't always the best, but they certainly leave you with stories to tell.
My most recent adventure was to Yellowknife. It was an adventure of a lifetime and I cannot wait to return. Yellowknife has held a special place in my heart since I found out that it is where my birth Mother was born. My adoption reunion journey has been incredible, but I felt like this trip really brought the entire experience full circle. While most of the family there I have already met, I found it incredibly moving to be in the place where my people come from. Its so hard to explain. It may be the significance First Nation's people place on the land or maybe its just me, but I really felt a strong connection to the land. There was a familiarity in it. Which is odd considering my Mom never grew up there, but my family has lived there for many generations, so it is our land and that is what I found significant.
The town is unique and quirky and quaint. The housing is so different than anything I've ever seen. No two houses are the same. And the color, oh the color. I imagine when you have 8 months of winter, you might need a splash of color from time to time, so this tends to show up in the buildings and it is incredibly fun. As my Aunt said, it is a town of character.
I realize that I visited during the summer, which is only a partial picture of what life in Yellowknife really is like, but I loved the sunshine. Living in Edmonton, I certainly notice more sunshine in the summer months that living on the Island, but the difference was significant. Needing sunglasses at 9:00pm at night is something I could totally get used to.
And the water. There was water everywhere! Lakes all over the place, three main ones right in the town. So many opportunities to be outdoors. Edmonton has no water source that you could actually swim in, which we really notice in the summer. Growing up on Vancouver Island we always had 4 lakes within a 20 minute drive, not to mention a river and the numerous beaches. So Yellowknife felt like a perfect mix of the two places. The unending Prairie skyline and lakes everywhere.
Of course, I loved seeing the town and the sunlight, but what meant the most to me was seeing my Aunt's and Grandparents and cousins. They have always been incredibly gracious and welcomed me with open arms. So visiting Yellowknife and being welcomed into their homes and sharing their meals was so special. Although I loved the adventure and the opportunity to see the land where my people come from, I had a few "wow" adoption moments during my time there.
At my Grandma's birthday celebration, we were flipping through a photo album and looking at old family photos. It hit me that this is MY family album too. I'm not just an observer listening to the stories behind the photos. These photos are of MY people. That really moved me. Then as we were all sitting around the fire, people were talking and sharing stories and laughing (so much laughter in this family), I realized that I this is not just some random gathering of strangers, this was MY family. When I've met them previously, we usually meet at a neutral location like a local restaurant in Edmonton, so I had never been a part of their day-to-day lives. This experience was so different. I got to see how they live, where they live and how they interact with each other every day. I began to see the unique family dynamics and realized that I will begin to make my own place within the family.
The morning after the birthday celebration, I was telling my Aunt about my aha moments with the photo albums and she said, "Makes you wonder which pictures you would have been in." Well, geesh, that really blew my mind! Of course, I am not in a bitter or regretful place. I don't really ask the what if question, nor have I ever. I am happy with my life and where I have ended up, but I suppose in some ways it is interesting to ponder. I know that my life would have been drastically different. That line of thinking led me to think what if I had never pursued this? What if I would have left it alone and never had the opportunities to meet all of these amazing, loving, gracious people? How would I be different not receiving the love and acceptance they have extended to me? For the most part, their lives would essentially be unaffected, but it grieved my heart to think that I never would have had the opportunity to know them or spend this past weekend with them.
Of course, I know, not all adoption reunions end up like this, with an amazing group of people on the other end of those "what ifs." But it's how mine has ended and for that I am so unbelievably grateful.
“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” — Thornton Wilder
Now you ARE in the family album.
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