Cranbrook
Posted by Meg Tilly
We are sitting in the pub at the Mount Baker Hotel in Cranbrook. I had a delicious poutine with really good gravy. All five of us are typing away on our laptops. Music blasting, guitars squealing. Loud raucous male laughter from the table behind me, the dialogue interspersed with a lot of bulls__t. Bulls__t? Bulls__t! No kidding me? Bulls__t. And then, “HA…HA…HA…HA…HA!” These guys know how to enjoy life. It makes me smile listening to them.
But on to more important matters. The reason I feel compelled to write on this blog before I write on my own personal blog is I want to talk for a moment about Amy Woodland Elementary.
I LOVE this school. Love it. The minute you walk into the school, you can feel the commitment and dedication of the teachers. These kids are so lucky with this staff. I got such a wonderful feeling from every single person I met on the staff. And you can feel it with the children. Their enthusiasm, their eagerness to ask questions, the way the teachers were there supporting this event, involved. It is a wonderful heart-warming thing to see.
And then, to make this visit even more special…
Bryan had driven by the school around 45 minutes before we were due to make sure we knew where it was and didn’t get lost. And to my delight, we were treated to the sight of kids running, playing, swinging, in their pajamas. PAJAMA DAY! My favorite! Then when Bryan drove back into the part of town where the shops were, I saw a Salvation Army and it seemed like a sign if I ever saw one. So I decided to forgo the coffee shop and went into the second-hand store and bought myself some pajamas instead.
How much fun is that?! When we got to the school, I disappeared into the Staff bathroom and changed out of my carefully chosen authorly clothes into some lavender pajamas and a wonderful fluffy pink robe that was so soft. I love that robe. It is definitely coming home with me.
I feel such gratitude to the organizers of the BC Book Prizes for giving me and David the chance to experience this wonderful school. I feel so happy that we were able to be here. Talk to these kids, slip a few life lessons in on the sly. Feel so fortunate.
Bill Horne
Apr 28, 2008 at 05:18 PM
Hi Meg:
I’m the man with the velvet jacket and kilt from the table beside yours at the gala
Thanks for your kind words on your own blog; I enjoyed meeting you. Do visit us some time at http://claireart.ca; we have some porcupine stuff to send you from up north!
best wishes,
Bill Horne
Wells, BC