Wednesday, July 20, 2016

The Bag Lady visits a Canadian friend

This week I'm visiting my friend Judy who lives in Muskoka, Ontario, Canada. It's a summer resort area about two hours north of Toronto - a beautiful place with lakes, rivers and beaches. Judy runs her errands in several little towns, so we get to visit each place, have lunch or a treat, and browse in the shops. Ordinarily I detest shopping for clothes, but Judy has a wonderful eye and is good counsel for me on my retail forays.

I visited Judy last year. You can read about that trip and see my pictures here. We're going to almost exactly the same places and doing the same things as last year. The only real difference is the content of our conversations. As a matter of fact, I was tempted to bail on my blog for this week and just repost last year's trip, but I felt too guilty.

I am going to Greece for a week next month to volunteer in a refugee camp in Oinofyta. It will be hot and humid and I am not good with either, so I'm looking for the coolest possible clothes. Today I found two shirts and a sundress (I haven't worn a dress in at least seven years, so we'll see).

Judy and I are both talkers. Here's an example of our discussion topics on this trip:

  • The personalities, assets and limitations of our husbands! We're both married to men five years older than we are, so the guys are, well, older, and we do not yet think of ourselves that way.
  • What on earth is going on between America and Donald Trump. Actually, I have gotten this question multiple times - from servers and retail clerks, who have actually gathered to hear me better. I tell them America is a very large country with very diverse opinions, and that the press is giving Trump a lot of airtime because he's such an unusual candidate. Several of them expressed unease that Trump could win. I told them what I can do is vote and that there are many, many Americans who will not be voting for him.
  • The worst thing each of us ever did. Judy asked me. I said I'd have to think about it. I asked her. She said she'd have to think about it. Then I told her and she told me. We can both still live with ourselves.
  • How we spend our winters. I met Judy when she and her husband Ken were our neighbors at the Voyager RV Resort, where we live in the winter. They sold their place and now go to Florida. We have a park model in Tucson and they leave their RV in Sarasota. Judy says she wants to be near the water. I said I want to be in the sun. 
  • What on earth is going on at the Republican Convention.
I rarely spend this much time with a girlfriend, but so far neither of us has gotten bored. We laugh a LOT. And Judy gets up early and I don't, and I stay up late and she doesn't. So she has her time with her husband Ken when I'm elsewhere. That's good for all of us.

I fly home on Friday evening. For a week. Then I leave on another trip. More on that one later.



8 comments:

DJan said...

She sounds like fun! I look forward to having this awful Republican convention behind us. I wish I didn't care so much. :-(

Tom said...

B has a friend who lives outside Toronto and who has a place in Muskoka, Ontario. B has visited there twice and, like you, thinks it's a special place. As for your conversations, I'm sure number one gave you lots to talk about. As for number two, you could remind your friend of Toronto mayor Rob Ford ... so I don't think crazy politicians know any particular nationality!

Arkansas Patti said...

The good thing is that you are away from all the hubbub about the convention--or at least most of it. A good friend is one that you are immediately comfortable with--seems like you both have that. Keep enjoying.

Madeline Kasian said...

Sounds like a great girlfriend trip! I am looking forward to a reunion with two high school/grade school friends in August,IUn Loveland Colorado,where one of them is showing her collage art in a juried exhibit.I understand there are many arts and crafts events the week I'm going,so we gals we be out on the town,drinking in all the art and
music events we can as we catch up. Girlfriend time is precious!!

Dr. Kathy McCoy said...

It sounds wonderful, Linda! What a great friendship that you can be so candid with each other and enjoy it all so much! Amazing how one finds friendships everywhere. So glad you have nurtured and kept your friendship even though they're now wintering in Florida. I can imagine we'll be getting similar questions about Trump once our Canadian residents return here this fall!

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

What a great, lasting relationship. I think we get to know ourselves better through long-time female friendships like yours.

b+ (Retire In Style Blog) said...

I have never spent an extended time with anyone but my family. I am a little hesitant for some reason...I am not sure if any friend could stand me or I them for more than 2-3 days. Sigh!

You are very lucky Linda in that you make your own luck. I like that!

As for politics...is is absolutely insane. Now I see that Sanders backers are rebelling against voting for Clinton. If they do that they may as well go out and vote Republican. That scares me a lot!

joared said...

There are no friends like old friends. I just wish so many of my friends -- younger, contemporary and older hadn't died. Enjoy yours. Loved the classic conversation topics. My husband was 7 yrs older than I with the difference between us becoming more pronounced as we aged.