Multiple lives

Don't get overly excited, I'm not going to reveal my superhero alter ego on this page at this time, I'm simply referring to the feeling I get when I visit a city I used to live in. With the years that list has grown: Minneapolis, Edmonton, Montreal, Franklin Centre...ok, one of these things is not like the others, Franklin is barely a village, which may explain why I didn't have much of a life while I lived there. But in each place I have always found that returning makes me feel as though I'm visiting a vestige of who I once was. It's something that I actually enjoy, or at least have so far, that probably has something to do with a lack of emotional scaring throughout my life...so we will see what happens when I leave Minneapolis. But for me going back to a former home has always been a delight and the latest trip back to Edmonton was one of the best 'homecomings' yet.

Since most of you were there I don't see much reason to tell you what I did with you, but I will add some high points from the visit for those that weren't there. As I've recently seen in the posts and tracking stats I have a few consistent readers that I have never meet. So here are some of the interesting points from the trip:

• Breakfast get togethers, that's how busy I was, a few people I wanted to see I was only able to fit into early morning coffee reunions
• Really great coffee, on the same line I spent most mornings getting an espresso at Cafe Leva, truly the best coffee I have yet to taste, makes the stuff I have in the morning seem well shitty
• Hugs, it's a damn good thing that I'm the touchy-feely type (in the good way) because I was hugged by more people than usual, some of them simply upon meeting them (Kathryn's sister for example)
• More family, apparently I have now been adopted by Kathryn's family, her mom was even thinking of whom within the family I could be set up with (wait a minute...would that count as incest?). The really funny part about being 'adopted' by them is that many consider Colin and I to be twins, so it only makes sense that I would be welcomed by the in-laws as well.
• Crack (aka chocolate), it's a damn good think that the chocolate shop that was used for the wedding favours opened only after I moved to Minneapolis, because that is damn good chocolate and I don't know if I could afford to spend money on the bikes and chocolate
• Acting like a chipmunk on speed, at least that's the closest description I can give you for what I was like as best man, more than once Anthony told me to relax, which I did, for about a minute, total
• Families, I have to admit to being a bit stunned by how great both Kathryn and Colin's families are, they were incredibly friendly, charming, funny and just plain fun, I guess this explains why Kathryn and Colin turned out the way they did
• Maranoni custom bikes, ridding Aaron's bike was a great experience, even though the fit was a bit poor for my style it was a great ride, so there is one more thing I need to get eventually
• Getting all emotional at weddings, I can't say that I anticipated becoming as emotional as I was, but the whole thing really got to me and I was so happy to see two great friends get married (now for the rest of you, hold off for a while, I don't have time to get back for more weddings just yet)
• Friends friends and more friends, I'm simply stunned at how many great friends I have back in Edmonton, not only that but the number seems to keep growing, I managed to spend some time with a few that I had not spent much time with in the past, and I really enjoyed it, all in all it makes coming back here a little more challenging (thanks a lot)

So that's the briefest of summaries of my trip, there is too much to say to make for a good blog read. What I do want to say is that I was happy to see all of those that I could and I'm sorry that I could not spend more time with all of you. To be honest Edmonton feels like home in a way that no other place has. That is due entirely to the relationship that I have will all of my friends there, and thankfully it just seems to keep on getting better with time.