95 of 100 ... My "Summer Holiday"

I guess if I take no holidays this summer, I will remember this day as my "holiday" ... I was unsure if I should meet my friend and her husband for a day in the mountains and I decided to go for it.  Who knows when (if ever) would I get this chance again?  The last time I saw CC was in 2001 ... I didn't want to let this chance slip through my fingers.  So, after my blood tests (10:30ish when I got there at 7 AM!!!), I hit the road to Banff. I took care to stop and move around out of the car every hour, so hopefully all went well from a medical perspective!


Moments of Gratitude for Today, Friday


So many!!! .... Today, I was grateful for:
1/ driving a lot on the Bow Valley Parkway - it's so beautiful (when there is no smoke!)! I think I need to return sometime when the smoke is gone so I can take photos to show CC what it is like when the mountain tops are not shrouded in smoke!
2/ eating at some really unique, fantastic restaurants that I've never been to before.  Both were part of a cabin/lodge facility, both were utterly fantastic:  Baker Creek Chalets and Storm Mountain Lodge.
3/ sitting on the outdoor deck-lounge of the Chateau Lake Louise, overlooking the lake, enjoying a glass of Orange-Rosemary Margarita and Duck Spring Rolls.  The cost was ridiculous, but for that moment, in that location with that company ... I was ok paying that.  A moment I will savour for many days and months to come!
4/ the beauty of Lake Moraine - the last time I was here was when I was in grade school.  I'm sure things have changed since then, but not the beauty of the lake.  Wow!  Though it was crawling with vacationers, there were moments along the walking path (which I did my best to champion), when you could close your eyes, smell the air and imagine what it was like before all the commercialism. 
5/ of course, the ultimate best gift, was to spend the day with CC and her husband.  Spending time with people really does make a difference to my spirit and sense of self.  And, spending time with people who were important in my life long ago and the connection and love is still there - even better!