im feeling a bit like dorothy...
it's that time of year again...
the calgary STAMPEDE...
the transWESTites come out in full fashion; the downtown core smells like a mixture b/w pancakes and cow patties; people's vocabulary is reduced to "ya-hoo" and "ya'll"; country music leaks from all known sound systems... this is when the most tourists come through calgary and are sadly given a glimpse into what normal life is NOT like in the city. however, western pride and western heritage is what causes this odd phenomenon in an otherwise corporate city. yes, unfortunately corporate. i was recently visiting my parents in the small town where i grew up a few weeks ago. its a smaller town with an estimate population of 6,000 people, quite wealthy in resources, nature and so many other things... and of course... SLOW. what a difference in atmosphere. it seems that even in the smaller towns around calgary are a bit of the hustle-bustle mentality. moreso b/c i think instead, we have to flock to the urban centres to "make our fortunes", "get ahead in life" or whatever it is that you want to call it and choose cold hard concrete towers over small-town pleasures. former urbanites have started infiltrating smaller communities around the city b/c of 1.) tired of city living or 2.) more affordable living. at any rate, being 5 ½ hours away from this place was AMAZING. we're talking about a town where everything seems to move in slow-motion. where people can actually take time during lunch hour to go home and let out the dog and throw in a load of laundry. where, when i was a kid, we used to go for a quick swim @ lunch @ the lake b/c it was a 3 minute drive from the high school. where someone driving 40km/h is considered a maniac. this is a place where i couldn't wish myself out of fast enough when i was growing up. now, more often, i think very fondly of it and maybe hope to return to that kind of living some day. for now, i'm in a city where getting dressed up like a cowboy for 10 days is the highlight of the year for most folks. but at least this time of the year people are more friendly than they usually are. *clicks heels three times*... there's no place like home... there's no place like home... (maybe in 10 years)...
the calgary STAMPEDE...
the transWESTites come out in full fashion; the downtown core smells like a mixture b/w pancakes and cow patties; people's vocabulary is reduced to "ya-hoo" and "ya'll"; country music leaks from all known sound systems... this is when the most tourists come through calgary and are sadly given a glimpse into what normal life is NOT like in the city. however, western pride and western heritage is what causes this odd phenomenon in an otherwise corporate city. yes, unfortunately corporate. i was recently visiting my parents in the small town where i grew up a few weeks ago. its a smaller town with an estimate population of 6,000 people, quite wealthy in resources, nature and so many other things... and of course... SLOW. what a difference in atmosphere. it seems that even in the smaller towns around calgary are a bit of the hustle-bustle mentality. moreso b/c i think instead, we have to flock to the urban centres to "make our fortunes", "get ahead in life" or whatever it is that you want to call it and choose cold hard concrete towers over small-town pleasures. former urbanites have started infiltrating smaller communities around the city b/c of 1.) tired of city living or 2.) more affordable living. at any rate, being 5 ½ hours away from this place was AMAZING. we're talking about a town where everything seems to move in slow-motion. where people can actually take time during lunch hour to go home and let out the dog and throw in a load of laundry. where, when i was a kid, we used to go for a quick swim @ lunch @ the lake b/c it was a 3 minute drive from the high school. where someone driving 40km/h is considered a maniac. this is a place where i couldn't wish myself out of fast enough when i was growing up. now, more often, i think very fondly of it and maybe hope to return to that kind of living some day. for now, i'm in a city where getting dressed up like a cowboy for 10 days is the highlight of the year for most folks. but at least this time of the year people are more friendly than they usually are. *clicks heels three times*... there's no place like home... there's no place like home... (maybe in 10 years)...
why would you even want to be rushed in a place this beautiful?
posted by Vera at 7/09/2006 05:17:00 p.m.
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