Sunday, April 28, 2013

Friend Bids Farewell To White Rock

MY WALKING buddy, friend and neighbour is returning to Newfoundland after living in and around the White Rock area for many years.

I thought it would be nice for us to take a stroll along the pier before she travels back to the eastern province.

We were surprised to find the pier was closed that day for upgrades.

While the crew assigned to the task were hard at work others were relaxing and enjoying the rain-free day.

We wondered how one mom managed to wheel her child's stroller onto the spongy beach floor.

Luckily there is always something to explore near the shore. The tulips carefully planted by city gardeners were ablaze with color.

A familiar statue called Metamorphosis by Joan Miriam Adams made us ponder. The 1989 work shows a woman transforming into a bird. Chiseled from an 8-foot block of granite it needed a second and third look to fully appreciate.

It seems that physically morphing into a bird can be as tricky as it is to grow wings from a symbolic point of view. The lovely bend of her head gave my neck a twitch the way it tends to do whenever I see it.

The clock overlooking the pier seemed to say that the time to share outings with my friend was running out but fond memories would remain.

As she gazed into the distance I wondered if her mind was already on the Atlantic coast, thousands of miles from the Pacific coast, on the eastern shore.

Born in Newfoundland her journey is winding back near to where she started much like in the labyrinth I wrote about in an earlier post ... no doubt wiser now and with a wealth of experience to draw upon from the sea to sea.

The statue of a transforming woman, my friend returning to the land of her birth and the circular patterns of the labyrinth and clock all brought to mind words by Nelson Mandela, "There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered."

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Copyright by Penelope Puddlisms

7 comments:

  1. A very apt quote by Nelson Mandela. I wish your friend safe travels and good times ahead.

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  2. Even though the pier was closed it looks like you had a lovely walk. I can't imagine pushing a stroller on the beach.

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  3. It's so hard to say goodbye to a walking buddy. I know because one of mine moved from Ontario to Vancouver last year.

    That's an interesting idea to transform from a woman into a bird! :)

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  4. I'm sure you will miss your walking buddy but good to have shared so many memories.

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  5. I am sure you will miss her, how bittersweet for both of you.

    Jen

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  6. What a nice memorial walk! I believe the memories you two shared will be full grown when remembered by each of you. Parting with a good friend is sad but to have such a fond memory is a bliss.

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  7. Looks like you had a nice walk. and you will treasure your memories you had with you walking buddy.

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