A Friend.

Last Sunday I took one of my oldest friends out for Sunday brunch. We were celebrating her 30th birthday! I've known Crystal since grade 10 in high school. Crystal is an excellent cook, very positive, and she is so generous. She and I have traveled all over the world together. I remember in 4th year when we were nearing the end of our undergrads, we discovered that our plan to go to Belize was ruined by the sheer expense of it.

Crystal then thought to suggest Bali, Indonesia. This is a girl who works in marketing, and she is really good at her job.

We went.

Even though she lives on the other side of town we tend to meet up around city centre, which is approximately midway for both of us. It might not be club hopping, satay, and ice coffees in southeast asia; getting food poising at a pirate armoury in Cuba; sleeping on a crusty blanket in Barcelona; or picnics at places de vosges in Paris... but we make Edmonton our own playground. It's not always the place that makes time with a friend seem special. It's that feeling of connecting while doing something fun and enjoyable, when you feel most like a version of yourself that you like.

I think some people over-romanticize travel and comment on how much more fun a city like Paris or New York is. It's true that these great cities and unique places can never be replicated, but that relaxed, curious, adventurous version of yourself is still hiding inside, even if you're just in your home town. The Paris or New York version of me is still alive and ticking even though I'm just hanging around in Edmonton. Biking and trains help me keep that joie de vivre.

I think my point is it's not just the place. It's you. And your state of mind.

For Crystal and me it was brunch at the Hotel MacDonald last Sunday.





The Empire Ballroom is such a pretty place.

Normally I'm not into heavy curtains, but here it works.





So grand.





Chandelier!





Afterwards we took a stroll on the veranda. Edmonton is so beautiful when it's green.





In order to work off the big big brunch I took Dexter for some cardio in the form of shopping. There were these shoes I had to get from a few weeks ago that I haven't been able to stop thinking about.

Later we walked down to the park to have some sun time with Fella and her sister, Sandra.

Did you know? Sunglasses are delicious.





Dexter relished the freedom of uninhibited crawling.





*Crawl*





As June progresses I have less and less work with each week. Once July arrives I will be entirely work free for the whole summer! Thus is the blessing of being a teacher who sets her own hours. I sometimes get jealous of my friends with jobs that require meetings that sound important and these projects that seem so comprehensive. But then I think about the freedom I have to soak up sun, ride bikes, and be with my baby over these lovely summer months... and I couldn't ever trade with any of them.

But I do look forward to having time to go and meet them for lunch all the time:)