Entering the summer solstice. I crossed the Salish Sea today which provides this view of my home island and, today, a glimpse of two dolphins who passed us in a hurry, steaming their way north.
This is the time of year in the north when the light begins to wane. The time of the fullest and brightest days, the fulfilled promise of the winter solstice. For me it’s a time of waning fullness, letting myself empty out leading into some time off in the summer and a busy fall. I love the rhythm of waxing and waning, of light and dark, of ordinary time and non-ordinary time. A year divided into two forms of practice.
So I wish you a happy celebration of the fullness of promise, an honoring of the warmth and light, comfort if you need it and relaxation if it helps. And my wish for this six months is for a half year of good practice, putting to good use everything that has been learned in the winter and spring.
On Bowen when it closes is the right time.
Stunning weekend here on Bowen Island. Yesterday was 25 degrees and clear and Aine and I went walking along the south shore of Cape Roger Curtis, watching cruise ships sail and surf scoters dart by. Today it was a late brunch, some football at the artificial turf field and lunch at Artisan Eats with the kids and then relaxing on the sleeping porch in the cool afternoon breeze.
Nothing remarkable, and yet it is this miracle of stillness and relaxation that I live for.
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I’m about to board a flight from Toronto to Vancouver and I had the thought this morning that I might share this flight with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC my local football (soccer) team. I am a huge fan of these guys, a member of one of the supporters groups and a seasons ticket holder. And I was dreading sharing the flight with the team.
The reason? The Whitecaps absolutely blew the best chance they have had in years of inning the Canadian Championship cup final last night. They came out against Toronto FC – a team that has lost its first 9 games of the season, a team that one of heir own called “the worst in the world” – and they lost. They needed a goal to go ahead in the second leg and they failed to score. They put on the most dismal performance I have ever seen them play. They didn’t link up, they didn’t have a shot on goal, they stood in against a crappy team that was determined to foul them, waste time and destroy the pace of the game and they caved in.
I can only imagine this morning the heartbreak and disappointment they must be feeling. I have had days like that – when nothing goes right despite your best intentions. When something that seems easy and straightforward gets completely overtaken by circumstance. When complacency creates a cascade of effects that tips the system towards chaos and there is nothing to do but retreat and hit reset.
There is no guaranteed results in sport, and football is one of those sports that will always surprise you. There is never a guarantee that even the easiest of tasks in the most favourable of circumstances will work out. Disappointment is an inevitable part of working in the unknown. Heartbreak is a possible outcome.
So live it and move on. There is nothing else to do but host yourself through it and realize that, in the game of complex outcomes, the next possibility has arisen right now.
Go Caps. We have a derby against Portland on the weekend. Reset and kick some ass.
Early morning trip to Minnesota on a holiday Monday. One downside of working a lot in the United States is that American clients often book me for long weekends. It’s free on my calendar, so it must be okay!
Not too choked to leave on a little trip today though. The weather has been glorious the past few days, the Vancouver Whitecaps have treated us to some fabulous games at BC Place, including a thrilling comeback in the opening leg of the Canadian Championship Cup final and a terrific derby match against Seattle.
But now the rainy weather has moved in, the Pacific high which gets established over the Gulf of Alaska every summer, is yet to settle in so it’s bright grey cloud with light rain, moderate temperatures and no wind. I’m off to Minnesota where I’m looking forward to sunshine and thunderstorms.