I started this in 2010, and it is still rings true as I pack again for another winter away. Passing through Edmonton, Red Deer and Calgary, I am once again blown away by the generosity of my friends. Spare rooms, entire houses! even, opened, vehicles and novels loaned, meals and beer gifted, rides offered, time given. To acquire such a debt is humbling and reminiscent of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros "home is wherever I'm with you" so a hugely insufficient thank you is overdue.
2010 Bare Essentials (and any year since)
- Valid
passport
- Orange work
caulk (pronounced cork) boots
- Word
processor
- Credit card
of my choosing – and I am spoiled for choice. I hold all three major cards in my
wallet.
I imagine these items are indicative of the year I
want to have. Passport to travel, work
boots to trudge through the boreal with, a word processor to write about it,
and a credit card to make up the difference where the struggling B.C. forest
industry falls short.
All of these are some sort of ID. Government issued, industry standard, future
aspirations of amateur writer and a financial institution that happily finances
my pursuits for an exorbitant interest rate.
Collectively, these items do not make me autonomous
or even mildly independent. If anything,
they reemphasize my dependence on others.
Passport reminds me I am thankful of the rides to
the airport, the bulging address book full of friends, family, acquaintances
and strangers who will take me in and shelter, feed or simply entertain me for
a few moments and the support of my mother who will promptly answer any phone
message I leave her.
Likewise with my caulk boots. They remind me of the close-knit forestry
community and my ultimate dependence on the Creator to harvest and renew His
creation.
There's a photo somewhere that Robyn took of my daypack while we frantically searched for my passport as my bus to Edmonton idled. It shows my laptop, a bottle of rum, camera and a handful of novels from Donna.
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