A city is a great place to visit but . . . I should pause right here an apologize in advance. I’m sorry if city life is your thing. I’ve know many people who prefer it. I knew one girl who moved to Edmonton and liked it. She only hoped to live in a REAL city. Edmonton was just too “small-town” for her.
I’ve visited larger places such as Montreal, Ottawa and San Franscisco. It was exciting but I noticed that these places were not much different than Edmonton. They are all cities. They have lots of cars, buildings, and people. I’ve enjoyed every visit, but when I had to live in Edmonton, I had to leave every few weeks. I had to get away.
I spend a couple weeks a year in Edmonton marking exams. For about five days I get to immerse myself into the lifestyle. I commute in the morning and evening traffic. I ride the LRT and stand with hundreds of others. I even stand in line at the corner Tim’s waiting for my extra large jolt of caffeine. I join the mob as they shuffle down the sidewalks only to wait at the next light. On the way home after a day of work I get to stare at nothing while the LRT makes its way along the track to pick the dozens of people who all stand together, but not really together.
My family also took time to enjoy what city life offers. We spent a day at the Telus World of Science. We took in a football game. There is the immense variety of activities and resources that only a large collection of people, businesses, and communities can provide.
I wondered about it all as I sat waiting for the Canada Day fireworks to brighten the sky over the Vermilion Ag Grounds. Cars slowly made their way to find a spot to park on the grass. Groups of people strode up the grandstand, waved to aquantenances, and stopped to chat with friends. Earlier that day I had sat at the LRT station and waited for the train. The seat on the grandstand wasn’t any softer. The air was clearer but the bugs were worse. I’m sure the fireworks in Edmonton were much bigger, brighter, and dramatic. I still had to shuffle along with the crowd back to my car. I still had to wait for a hole in the traffic. I waited my turn to merge onto the road and follow the line toward home.
Despite the waiting, coming back to Vermilion that evening was wonderful. There was something missing in Vermilion compared to my week in Edmonton. Vermilion lacked the ‘busyiness’. There was no ‘rushing’. It was not ‘hurry just to wait’. Every city I’ve ever visited has had this attribute. I’ve never been able to relax around all the action. We may be missing a few things our here in the country. But, that can be okay, too.
