spilling the beans

No, my latest addition to this ever-rambling blog about my simple, lovely life has nothing to do with one Sir Beans, Esq. (although I will happily give you an ear-full should you accidentally stumble into a conversation about my favorite maltese).

ah, there he is. Dr. Rice lolls about in the sun behind him.

Rather, I’ve been holding on to a snippet of information for a seemingly long time now, and I think it’s about time you were made privy to it.

First, let me disclose that this has been a hard thing to keep quiet, and a giant thank you goes out to all of you who have been rather excellent at keeping the secret to yourselves (or off of Facebook, which is probably most important). As well, I have found it in my heart to forgive you if you let the secret slip, but only just, so don’t push it (I’m talking to you, Paul Stroyan).

I’m moving back to Edmonton.

I finally told the management at work and so I guess the cat’s out of the bag, so to speak. It has been a process, for sure. First I let the agent know (who amazingly agreed to represent me from Vancouver, which makes me feel a bit like a spoiled Vancouverite), then the gym, then my landlady (obviously in descending order of importance, so work had to be last). Kidding.

Yes, it’s a big step. I know a lot of people are going to say that I didn’t really give it the ol’ college try (namely my cousin Joel who intimated enthusiastically last spring that I had to give Vancouver at least 3 years), yet there are others who claim that they would never have had the guts to leave in the first place.

August 2008 to April 2010 is a total of 19 months.

19 months of salty air, cherry blossoms and expensive insurance on my car. 19 months of the most amazing food, heart-stopping weather and best friends a girl could ask for.

19 months of Kits beach, drinks in Gastown and terrible, terrible drivers. I’ve been broke almost the entire time I’ve been here; that’s one thing I really look forward to– the ability to save money again.

In those 19 months we had a brutal winter, enough to shut the city down and ruin this lady’s favorite holiday. And this winter we had spring start in January to make me forget it all happened.

I’ve spent countless hours walking the arbutus and monkey-tree lined streets, eating in cafes that could rival the best in the world, experiencing tourists and patriots and the best Winter Olympics anyone could want, and coming to love a city so many have loved before me.

And I also spent thousands of dollars of my pocket money flying home to Edmonton– wait for it, 10 times in 19 months.

Vancouver is a great city, I’m not denying that.

But my heart lies in Edmonton, sandwiched between a tiny dachshund and a gangly-legged maltese.

Moving to Van was probably the single-most important experience in my young life. Ha, how the hell could I actually label it as such? I don’t know what I’m talking about. But I do know that it was something I needed to do; it has shaped me as a person.

I have zero regrets (about this, I do have a few regrets in my life, but those are a totally different blog post altogether). Living on my own is something I would never have been able to experience in Edmonton; now I’ve been afforded that liberating and sooo satisfying luxury, with a kitschy and adorable quirky old apartment to boot.

I’ve made friends here to last a few lifetimes, ones that I will not fail to visit on a (fairly) regular basis, and ones that will keep me company at all my favorite restaurants I’ve made whilst living here.

That is one thing I’ve been doing as the clock winds down, slowly but surely I’ve been going on “Andrea’s Whirlwind Eating Tour of Van City,” whose hotspots include but are not limited to: Coco et Olive, Burgoo, The Foundation, Vij’s, Tojo’s (saving up for that one), Cafe Medina, The Eatery and The Cascade Room. This city has some damn good restaurants! I can’t say that enough. Shopping, meh– no offense, Vancouver, but the cool places that you have to shop I can’t afford, and Edmonton has been a pioneer in getting coveted stores for a long time now, don’t ask me why, so I won’t miss that much.

Yes, the scenery– I do love spending an afternoon down at the beach with a book, and I have loved trekking around Whytecliff park and Lighthouse park and Crescent Beach on a nice day. I’ll miss the holly trees and the cherry trees and the little purple and orange crocus blossoms poking up in February. And magnolias! Be still my heart.

our favorite Dr. Seuss flowers, magnolias

But I won’t miss the rain. Nor the big-ass spiders. And not the laundromat!

And I long to return to the city whose heart is larger than its winter, who has a summer that makes it all seem worthwhile, and houses so many people I love. Also, due to privatization, who has liquor stores that are open on Sundays and car insurance that won’t cost you your first-born.

I’m an Edmontonian for life. It took me leaving to realize that.

But now a little part of me will always hold Vancouver dear; you’ve been good to me, definitely, and I’ll be back.

If not for you, then for the lavender lattes and waffles at Medina. Can we go, already? Jeez.

xoxo and all my love,

andrea

shot from my window this week... spring storm clouds