HIGHLIGHTS of the past two decades.
Late 1980's
- DISSOLUTION OF MY 1st MARRIAGE: took 10 years. While definitely not a highlight, this was a pivotal point in my life. From having the Mennonite community ostracize me to examining every belief I held about the universe and my role in it, it was a harsh learning experience. I still respect Tim Isaac, as both a person and an artist. We have both moved on to follow our callings. I believe that would not have been possible if our marriage had continued.
- SOLO: During the time I was evaluating the viability of my 1st marriage, I went on a month-long solo in Algonquin Park. I was a complete neophyte at the beginning but an original surveyor of the park tested me near the end of that journey and remarked: "I could drop you from a plane into the middle of this territory with a knife and a compass and you'd survive." The epiphany for me was about the healing powers of the wilderness. Note: On my birthday I always do something new I've never done before. On this birthday, after I gave them a last supper of peanut butter, I ate 24 slugs.
1990's
- SOUTH AMERICA: I travelled by myself (though I had family in Santiago) for three months through South America: Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil. Extraordinary experiences included: rafting down the whitewater of the Bio Bio (which is surrounded by lava that's frozen in position from when it hit the cold water; moonscape. There's a rapid down there named after me - one that I travelled in underwater while counting tiny bubbles); Puerto Maldonado - Amazon rain forest experience that included eating piranha, using bullet ants to suture a wound and fending off the amorous intentions of a 400 lb. tapir named "Romeo"; changing money on the black market; climbing up Machu Picchu and watching the sunrise with reverence.
- SOCIAL/CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY (U of Toronto): Anthropology appeared to be the convergence of my interests and ethics. I did a Qualifying year (since my B.A. majors were Psychology, English Literature and Comparative Religions) and then the majority of my Masters course work. I quit (which was excruciatingly difficult) for two reasons. 1. Politics: the department was trying to be a hard science in order to receive funding (from parties who were interested in info that would give them the upper hand over 3rd world countries). The department did this by disassociating from some of what I believe are the unmeasurable fundamentals of culture such as belief systems, art and unspoken social rules. 2. I found my true calling - to work as an experiential educator.
- OUTWARD BOUND: A not-for-profit organization that would become my home, passion and workplace for the next 14 years. I became an experiential/adventure educator and a course director, and eventually a manager/developer of community programs, corporate programs and base camps. The main aims were to assist people (age 13 - 88) in achieving their full potential. Transferable skills included: self-confidence, compassion, listening and leadership. Physical skills included: physical fitness, white-water kayaking/canoeing, sea kayaking, rock climbing, mountaineering, low impact camping, dog-sledding. The vehicles for achieving these skills included: experiential learning, mentorship, new social and physical environments and natural consequences. I worked with many inspiring staff and students in the phenomenal wilds of northern Ontario, the Florida Everglades, Vancouver and the Coast Mountains of B.C., and the jungles/mountains of Costa Rica. It was amazing and meaningful.
- TRIPS: Climbing trip to France where I had my heart broken. Travel around the U.S. with the same guy - silly me. Lived in Ottawa with him too!
- TRUE LOVE - 1998: I met a Yorkshire man in karate/kickboxing in Vancouver. He said, "Do you have a date on Friday night?" I said, "No, but I never have trouble getting one when I want one." He lifted his gaze from my bosom to my face, "Confident aren't we ..." I smiled. "And talented too." We've never looked back.
- BACK SURGERY - 1998: I am missing three discs, L4 L5 and one in my neck. My first one went in 1995. In 1998, three weeks after I met Colin, I stopped being able to walk. My leg was atrophying on my body and I was in such terrible pain that I couldn't finish a sentence - I couldn't concentrate that long. Colin wouldn't leave, even though we didn't know if I would recover. Bone spurs in my spine were herniating soft tissue (like discs), wrapping around and choking my sciatic nerve. After surgery I re-learned how to walk with a walker, a cane and then how to walk and talk at the same time (and turn my head without falling over). It took seven months for me to learn to sit, nine to go up on my toe, and two years before I could carry a pack.
- MARRIAGE AND A FOUR-MONTH HONEYMOON: Colin asked me to marry him while we were hiking the West Coast Trail. After a beach wedding with a magical in-the-woods celebration we went on a four month honeymoon to seven countries. Of particular note was scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, river sledging down a seven meter waterfall in New Zealand, the flood we witnessed in Malaysia and how four cultural groups worked together to rise above it, visiting Angkor Wat and 40 sq. miles of Khmer temples in Cambodia, the honesty of Laos, the tranquility of Thailand and the intensity of India.
- SETTLING DOWN?: When we returned to Vancouver Colin continued to work with the family business (AUTOGLYM) while I took on various management positions involving quality, training and personnel. My employers varied from 7 - 11 to a call center provider for Nextel. We bought a house, tried for a family and did urban things like raise chickens and fix the roof. After a couple of years we opted to spend a year at Outward Bound in Ontario. It was a magical intense year - summer outdoor adventures, fall colours, winter @ -40 living in a cabin by the lake and a spring of being very pregnant.
- CALLUM/Moving to VICTORIA - June 2004: A few days after I arrived in Victoria (and a few hours after Colin did - he drove and I flew) Callum was born (nearly six weeks early). We had to live with my folks for 11 days because we didn't even have a place to live yet. Callum has continued to keep us on our toes. He is a curious, observant, outgoing, hilarious, and ebullient child who fulfills Curious George's mandate of treating the city like his jungle gym.
Present
- DAYCARE OWNER/OPERATOR: Since Callum was born I've been the owner/operator of a daycare. I met my clients when they were about six weeks old by becoming friends with their parents. Since then life has been full of wonder and stickiness.
- WRITER: I've been writing purposefully since Callum was almost one. Romantic suspense novels, a young adult suspense novel and erotic short stories.
- CHRISTMAS POSTING: For more information about where we're at now read my Christmas posting, which will be the next one I add to this blog.
- WHAT I HAVEN'T SAID: I haven't touched on so many adventures or any of the people I love, the community I'm a part of, or what's up with our families, but I know your time is precious and patience is limited. I am not the bellybutton of your world. Hopefully the highlights have been entertaining though.
- VICTORIA: Last comment: Victoria truly is paradise. WE LOVE LIVING IN VICTORIA and wish that all the people we love could live here too. The beaches, the amenities, the art scene, the closeness of the wilderness, the pace, the people, what is there not to love? It's a great place for Callum to grow up, I get the wide-open vistas that a prairie girl requires and Colin gets some of the English sensibilities that he craves (i.e. English sweets, stone walls, good local brew).
- LOOK US UP if you're in town.
With love and joy,
Ramona
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