Can You Hear Me Now?

Alrighty, so I left off after eating at Dunn’s with Lo. She drove me back to the hotel and helped me get my bags upstairs. She left to return the wheelchair and I was meeting up with Emma and her Dad for dinner later, so I just rested for a few hours. Lo and I made plans to meet up early the next morning so we could go for breakfast before she drove me to the airport.

Emma and her Dad arrived just before 7:00, and it was off to St. Hubert’s. When I first started talking to Emma a couple few years ago, she must have mentioned St. Hubs in almost every conversation. It was her favourite restaurant. Of course, now she’s all grown up and her tastes have ventured into more ethnic and varied cuisine, but good ‘ol St. Hub’s is still on the list and I wanted to check it out.

I didn’t get to meet Emma’s dad on my last trip to Montreal, because he was off on vacation to some warm and beachy place. So this time I was happy to meet the man who is so supportive of Emma’s musical adventures, taking her to see bands and going to shows with her and picking her up late… he’s a cool guy, and obviously quite patient! I really liked him, he is very much into the “power of the mind” stuff so we had lots to talk about. I briefly met Emma’s stepmother on Friday when they were at the Yellow Door, but she unfortunately could not make it for dinner.

Anyway, after eating a yummy chicken sandwich and mashed potatoes (my favourite comfort food! St. Hubert’s is like a classier Swiss Chalet, which I am all too familiar with), after dinner coffee and talking, they drove me back to the hotel. Emma came upstairs with me so we could hug goodbye for an hour. Snifffffff! Then she was gone. WAH!!! Emmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! By the way Emma, YOU ROCK. You are so amazing, brilliant, funny, cute, sweet, smart, witty and wise and you’ve got great hair. I realize since we first met that you have made a LOT of new friends and all these other people are realizing how cool and amazing you are, and your own personal fan base is growing bigger every day. But always remember: I AM YOUR BIGGEST FAN!!!! I love you to bits and pieces. xoxoxo

The next morning I got up early, packed everything up, and Lo came to get me around 9:00. I checked out and we went for breakfast… Chez Cora, of course. I ordered a latte because it would be “my last latte in Montreal” for awhile. It wasn’t soy or vanilla, but it would have to do.

Then it was off to the airport, where Lo was able to get a pass to go through security and hang with me until I boarded the plane. When you’re “wheelchair assistance” they would rather you have a friend help you than use one of their much needed staff, so that’s a good deal. I wanted to stop at a souvenir shop to buy something for AH to thank him for looking after my cats while I was gone. You’d think I would have thought of this while in the mall the day before, but, no. There were a couple cute shops when you entered the airport, but someone told us there were more stores once you went through security, so I decided to wait and see what they had. That was a mistake because all the nice stuff was in the other stores… past security was only the typical airport Relay store with magazines and candy… and one T-shirt stand where I ended up getting him a very basic “Montreal” T-shirt. Bo-ring! Oh, and some maple candies called Moose Droppings that came in a cute tin. Yeah, the choices were limited. But as I soon found out he didn’t scoop the cat litter boxes, so he was deserving of Moose Droppings. Heh!

Anyway, we approached my gate and wouldn’t you know it, a Second Cup! Okay, so, THAT was my last latte in Montreal. And it was soy and vanilla.

Lo sat with me right up until I boarded. She had by this time given me my new cell phone and a couple of her CDs, which were safely stowed in my suitcase. Lo heard me singing along with some songs over the past few days and decided she wants me to sing on her next CD. Crazy person. I CAN NOT SING. I used to be able to, but I lost it with old age and no practice. Now I can sing along with other people, and only certain (limited) ranges and styles, but she seems to think that is enough. Crazy person.

Anyway, after hugs and kisses goodbye I was off. Sniffffff again! By the way, Lobelia, I am soooooooo glad we met. I feel like we have always been friends and were just plain meant to be friends. Thank you so very, very much for everything you did for me while I was in Montreal, all the driving me around, renting a wheelchair for me, airport pick up and drop off, etc. Thanks for the rose, the awesome cell phone, the CDs, the great talks, the compliments you gave me and being a true friend. I just know I can count on you and you have no idea how good that makes me feel. I miss you too, and can’t wait to hang out with you again! xoxoxo

My flight home was longer because we stopped in Toronto, and the flight I was on was full from Toronto to Calgary, so I was bumped to the next one. (I was using a Westjet Buddy Pass to fly, which is stand by). I had a couple hours to waste in the Toronto airport so I sat in the bar, drank a very expensive pint of beer, and called Lindy. I also text messaged AH to make sure he could still pick me up at the later time.

I arrived in Calgary just before 8:00 p.m. and AH picked me up. I had him stop at a Tim Horton’s drive thru because I was starving and figured a couple Everything bagels would do the trick. We got to my place and AH carried in my suitcase and put it on my bed so I was forced to at least do a little unpacking before I went to sleep. I kissed and smooshed kitties and scooped cat litter and was in bed shortly after that!

So, that was Montreal for me this time. I hope to go back next year… I had up until now been keeping all my loose change in a jar, but have moved it to a large vase and I’m including any loonies and toonies I get in there too. That is my travel fund. Next October is Lindy’s wedding, which he wants me at, so I’d like to combine Toronto and Montreal next fall… would that not be awesome???

I have no Montreal pics for this entry so let me throw up a couple cat ones:

Hanging out on mom’s bed