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January 27, 2007
My Ex
---MASON ENTRY---
When a relationship changes or ends and it's time to end it and continue your life in another direction without them, it can an incredible mix of emotions. Happiness and excitement at what you don't know is in store for you in the future, but yet sadness and loneliness of leaving familiarity behind. Not counting my soulmate Nicholas, I've have three substantial relationships with other humans - two men and a woman. Each of them have made permanent marks on my life both good and bad. Emails, phonecalls or thoughts have the habit of bringing many of them crashing back into my head when they happen It's a part of us that every human has to deal with - some call it baggage, others call it experiences. I think it's somewhere in between.
My longest relationship though so far hasn't been with a human, it's been with the soul of a city. From her curvy streets to her wildly masculine structures, the Mile High City has been a part of me forever. We may be separated by 2550 Km now, but those flood of emotions that you deal with when confronted with a former lover seems to happen with the non flesh and blood relations as well. The questions may be a tad different, but they're just the same really:
How have you been? Wow - you've grown and changed! I can't believe what you've done with your skyline.
While I've been back just over 24 hours, My trip back to Denver has brought back those flood of emotions. Happiness and excitement at what you don't know is in store for you in the future, but yet sadness and loneliness of leaving familiarity behind. But, just as when dealing with those feelings with our human relationships, we must deal with them with our other close ties.
Back in the 70's, Denver radio station KHOW (which I would later manage) launched a campaign that is remembered to this day: "I love you Denver!" T-shirts, jingles, commercials - you name it. It was s source of pride for the city and propelled the radio station to the top of the ranks. Well, I still love you Denver, but I don't love you anymore. Our separation was the right thing to happen to us and without wanting to hurt you, I really don't look back very much. It's been great seeing you again - you really have grown and changed and I'm very happy for you. But, I've found a new love in my life and I look forward to the excitement and future I have with my new love. Toronto will never be you, and you definitely aren't Toronto, but you will always be a part of me and I appreciate that so very much.
To my new love, I'll be back home soon - I miss you very much.
Posted by Mason at 05:16 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBackSurprise!
---MASON ENTRY---
Well, the cat is out of the bag. Some of my friends have known, but we've been keeping my visit to Denver this week pretty secret so that my sister wouldn't find out. January 26, 2007 is Char's 50th birthday. She and I have always been the closest siblings and dear friends. When my former work asked me to come back to Denver to help transition my replacement, it just so happened to time out that I could be here on her birthday.
For weeks I've been telling her white lies about my possible trip to Denver being postponed. I called her from Toronto's airport bright and early yesterday morning to tell her I wanted to be the first to wish her a happy birthday before anyone else since I couldn't be with her on her special day. I milked it for all it was worth hoping the whole time that there wouldn't be an airport announcement over the PA system to tip off my plans.
Flying into Denver was amazing - the blanket of deep, white snow covers then entire state! Farmhouses dotted the rural plains of Colorado sticking out of the snow like little islands in a sea of salt.
The initial plan was for us her husband and kids to take her to the Texas Roadhouse Barbeque restaurant near their house. I was going to come up to the table and pretend to be their waiter, but it was CRAZY busy so my niece came up with the plan to have me send a drink over to the table for her and have the waitress say it's from a gentleman at the bar and point to me standing there.
In typical Char-fashion, when she gets the drink she tells the waitress "thanks!" and continues her conversation with those at the table. Finally someone says you might want to at least see who it is and acknowledge them, so she stands up and starts looking - and looking and looking and can't see me. I finally walk a little closer and when she clasped her face in her hands I knew she saw me. I came up to a bawling sister in the middle of the restaurant and a hug that seemed to go on forever. The poor people in the tables next to us must have been wondering what the hell!
We had a wonderful dinner and then met up with other family members back at their house after dinner for cake and ice cream and celebrating the very, very, very long life of my little sister!
Making sisters cry is a home run for little brothers!
Posted by Mason at 05:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBackJanuary 25, 2007
Cccooooooollllllddddddd!
--MASON ENTRY--
The only difference between this picture and me today would be mom helping me get dressed today. I mean, yeowza - it really, really does get cold here in Can-ee-duh. So much fun walking to the subway and work today. I'm sure the weekend will be just as fun!
January 05, 2007
No Broken Bones!
---MASON ENTRY---
Thursday night was the first night of Nick's and my ice skating lessons at the rink in the park a block away from us. Only in Canada could you find a full-size outdoor ice rink in a small neighborhood park. There seem to be rinks in just about every park in this city.
I took to the skates fairly well - it seems very similar to skiing (weight, balance, bent knees, etc.) so I think that's why I took to it so well. Nick had a rough start, but by the end of the one-hour lesson, was doing great - he didn't fall once! I have pictures, but having a tough time uploading them, so will be working on that tomorrow.
The problem - at the end of the lesson it started RAINING - yeah. RAINING! It was 7:00pm, outside, in Canada and it's January 4th. WTF! It's still raining right now at about 11:00pm - the temperature is 7*C/44.5F and the forecast for tomorrow: 11*C/52*F! The weather folks here are actually saying that there's a very good chance we won't see any snow this year in Toronto.
Did the earth shift on it's axis of something while I was asleep?? I'm still in Canada, right? Oh, and Denver is supposed to get more snow tomorrow.
Sign. At least I'm learning how to skate - might not have anything to skate on, but hey - I now own a hot looking pair of hockey skates and a cool helmet!
Posted by Mason at 10:27 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
