Wishes For Bridges Each Step Of Your Way

Love is the bridge between you and everything. Rumi

It was hot that day with a cooling breeze as we walked adjacent to the busy car traffic.

Crossing over the Granville Street Bridge in Vancouver, my daughter and I had a bird's eye view (pictured left) of the Granville Island Public Market and the bright canary yellow restaurant there.

What better name for the restaurant than Bridges?

There are three bridge crossings in close proximity over False Creek, connecting downtown Vancouver to outlying areas. Across the way, we spied the Burrard Street Bridge built in the 1930's. Its Art Deco influence was visible from afar. Cambie Street Bridge (not pictured) also spans this inlet at the heart of the city.

A bridge can be any transitional device ... a thread, a complex web of communication from one to another or a simple log placed fortuitously over a tricky situation as my daughter's painting of Penelope (below) shows. 

There are imaginary, real and unchallenged obstacles as we press forward in life so I'll quote Penelope Puddle who would say without hesitation to all who cross from here to there: "Wishes for bridges each step of your way."

View more West Coast scenes at my latest photographic journal UNDER MY UMBRELLA and visit POSTCARDS FROM PENELOPE PUDDLE.

Postscript: This post was originally published in May of 2018

Penelope's "Wishes For Bridges" painting updated, July, 2025

Flowers In Winter

"Where flowers bloom so does hope." - Lady Bird Johnson

"Flowers are restful to look at. They have neither emotions nor conflicts," said Sigmund Freud. Although that is likely correct, they inspire emotions. The cut and painted flowers brought the hope of spring and warmth to a home I visited recently. Meanwhile, icicle flowers (above) were quietly forming, as they often do in February outside my own home, reminding me it's still chilly. Expecting snow to knock at my door at any moment, I was instead surprised when a bountiful hand-delivered bouquet of flowers came calling.

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Copyright by Penelope Puddlisms

Time's Up, Women's March, Vancouver 2018

IT WAS cold and raining off and on during the second Women's March in Vancouver, Canada, post the 2017 US election. My friend and I eagerly joined the throng at Jack Poole Plaza where people were gathering. There were impactful speeches that went on for some time prior to the March.

Two hours in the wet and cold for people of all ages, including children and the elderly, was a bit much so many left before the March actually started. Nonetheless, there were plenty remaining and ready to stroll. Thousands of us took to the streets holding signs and chanting slogans like Time's Up.

Umbrellas abounded. Most marchers had a camera in hand to record the event.

Some signage could be seen on windows of buildings where we walked.

The mood was friendly and the atmosphere peaceful.

There were some boos .....

when we reached the downtown building people love to hate.

Mostly there was a feeling that the world needs more dignity and love for all.

A powerful poem was written and read at the rally earlier by teenager Noor Fadel. Harrassed on a Skytrain in Vancouver last December, she was grateful that one person came to her aide at the time. Her poem is called I Forgive You.

To me the March felt a touch more somber and I thought there was a greater sense of urgency in the air this year. You can check out last year's March HERE.

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Copyright by Penelope Puddlisms

A Kurios End To A Curious Year

WE WERE in luck despite dire warnings from the weatherman. Not a single flake fell during our drive to Vancouver to cash in on our Christmas gift, prime seats at the Cirque du Soleil. The sun shone and excitement built as we waited to see what was inside the trademark blue and yellow striped tent.

The show succeeded in crafting a world of wonders. The costumed characters were sublime in a topsy-turvy dream-like atmosphere where life fell between the cracks of the imagination and was upside down at times. What would one find in a mechanical nautical world of a different era where talented people wearing strange makeup and odd masks performed improbable physical tasks? Although pictures were not allowed, the images will linger in my mind.

The show was a fittingly curious end to a curiously confusing year, particularly on the political scene where the world was turned upside down and inside out.

Since reality is, indeed, in some ways relative and perception plays a role, perhaps the chaotic past year will one day be seen as a death-defying circus act that in the end had a safety net to bounce reality into a better place. Wiser kinder actions in the world. Those are the feats I'll look for in the New Year.

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Copyright by Penelope Puddlisms

Fish Out Of Water

AN INVITATION to join friends on a sailboat to tour local coastal waters was very much welcome. My husband and I were delighted at the chance to head out from False Creek in Vancouver into perfect sailing weather.

The moderate breeze had pushed out the smoggy curtain of pollution that settled over Greater Vancouver due to the many forest fires raging primarily in BC's interior regions over summer. The blue sky was back and there was a nice balance of cloud, sun and wind rippling shadow and light onto the ocean. (The sun spot made me think of the solar eclipse to come the following week.)

It was fun to glide under, rather than drive over, the Burrard Bridge as we traveled the relatively short distance towards Horseshoe Bay.

Vessels of all sizes were out that day, including the "pirate" ship (above) packed with tourists.

One boat seemed packed with everything except people. You'd have to do a bit of digging to find a captain who surely was buried under there somewhere.

The many freighters were lumbering giants amid smaller leisure craft.

Very much "fish out of water" when it comes to sailing, our only job was to enjoy the view.

The younger guests did some "fishing" while on board.

We all admired Lighthouse Park, a hiking spot, looking pretty from a distance.

As we drifted by the beautiful scenery our friends, the crew, were busy adjusting sails and looking after the important details of running a ship.

It looks like smooth sailing from afar but it takes work to achieve that carefree feeling.

A food fest concluded our journey. You'd have thought we discovered gold when we spotted an artistic miracle in a "rare" kernel of corn.

The smiley face expressed our own ear-to-ear grins during much of that day.

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Copyright by Penelope Puddlisms

Birds Of A Feather

A RECENT GIFT from a thoughtful friend made me smile. I love the idea of flight and the cedar eagle feather carved and painted by Vancouver Salish artist, Len McKay, reminds me of how easily my imagination can take wing.

A creative thought floats like a feather ... light, free and minus the baggage. It can lift me up over city streets, rolling hills, wind tossed seas and into the billowy clouds. My flights of fancy know no bounds.

Beautiful moments don't last forever, however. Even the camouflaging bird (above) came down to earth to forage for food.

Although I've yet to see birds in the bath (above) during my Crescent Beach walks, I suspect they do land there because we all enjoy bathing and sometimes singing in the showers.

From the busy bird below (painted by my daughter when she was small) to the cedar feather and thoughts about flying, ideas are free flowing and life is incrementally changing so never as wooden or stuck in a frame as it appears.

Later in the week I joined my daughter in Vancouver for a mother/daughter hair day. I've always loved the differing shades and flow of her hair which was the major inspiration for Penelope Puddle's unruly locks.

On our way to lunch we saw the unique representation of Nike the ancient Greek Goddess of Victory (below) by Pavlos Angelos Kougioumtzis.

Presented to the City of Vancouver to commemorate the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the winged statue regally stands amid skyscrapers.

We also peeked into a high-end furniture store and saw ornamental peacocks (above) sporting feathers that I hoped were synthetic.

When we returned to my daughter's apartment it was clear to me that we both love antique artifacts, pretty flowers and lights brimming with extra sparkle.

People around the globe have more in common than not. Everyone wants to feel safe and cozy in their homes and treated with respect during their travels.

We are all birds of a feather, indeed, especially my daughter and I since we both agree there's something quite magical about a reliable and resilient umbrella.

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Copyright by Penelope Puddlisms