Emily’s boyfriend, Brian, seems like a nice guy.  They arrived Sunday afternoon after arriving in Victoria from Toronto the day before.  They get along well together.  Nice to see.  He seems impressed by our setting and lifestyle and seems to appreciate the beauty of it.  Mind you, most people think that way (especially those from Toronto) and, at the same time think, “Sheesh, it is very beautiful and all but I couldn’t live so remote.  I’d go mad!”

Ironically, when that thought is crossing their mind, they are also noting how many people are dropping by and calling.  Yesterday, a neighbour brought us a magnificent 25 pound salmon, the Hong Kong students and Sally went visiting neighbours and also went mountain climbing and I went into town to shop and get Brian and Em from the ferry and meeting two lost and curious Chinese tourists on the way.  It is never dull in the summer and I only find it ‘pleasant and easy-living’ on the shoulder seasons.  Winter can have a few bleak days but, even then, there are the storms and life threatening emergencies to keep us on our toes.  Nothing like an outboard dying in the middle of a winter storm at night to make you feel alive.  But summer?  Summer is a whirlwind!

I have to mention Kin again.  He has taken to this wood-chopping thing like a beaver.  This guy whacked away until he started to get a sense of the rhythm and timing.  Now he is, pound for pound, damn good at splitting rounds.  It is really quite neat to see Kin’s attitude in this.  He is grinning from ear to ear and aiming for the one-strike split every time.  When he gets it, he lights up.  I have to admit that so do I.  He is enjoying his physical-ness in a way that he doesn’t get to experience much living in Hong Kong.  All the kids are.  And most of them have stated that they would prefer not to return home.  “But, of course, we have to.”  

I find that sad in a way.  While I understand it completely, I am touched by their acceptance of their already established role in life.  It’s depressing.  They seem to be committed to something they don’t want and, even when they express awareness of that, they shrug and accept it as their fate or destiny.  Usually with a weak smile.  It is like they surrender to the greater but invisible social will and yet, can still express a desire not to.  It is very hard to say much to people who are making informed choices.  They know what they are doing.

Well, in a way, they don’t………..  They have never really ‘stepped out of line’, broken the rules or failed to meet others expectations.  So, they don’t know the freedom of acting for themselves.  Not really.  They know the obligations, the responsibilities and the duties very well but they don’t seem to know the limits or lack of limits in their own life.  They just toe the line obediently despite, sometimes, knowing that there are other choices.  It is like they are saying, “I see what is out there but I don’t see that I am entitled to it. I have obligations to fulfill, not personal growth”.

As usual, I am having trouble getting anything done with guests around.  I still have a tower to erect and funicular tracks to lay, not to mention some fabrication of steel assemblies to make.  I’ll get to it but, right now, dishes and clean-up and socializing seem to fill the day with the exception of these stolen moments updating the blog.

So, with that, I’d better get back to work…………..