The Juice Box

The Rites of Spring

Posted on April 23rd, 2008 by Jim.
Categories: General, Event Reviews, Travel.

Spring arrives to many fun events. The weather is improving and overall attitudes improve too. This year, as Spring has arrived, I find myself travelling more, dealing with some new challenges, and finding that life throws you lots of curve balls.

Let’s begin with the challenges.

Shortly after returning from Sydney, I received a call from my dad, letting me know that my mother was in the hospital, having suffered a major stroke and minor heart attack. The good news is she is well, and suffered very little physical issue. However, she has had significant brain trauma and is dealing with a level of aphasia. I am happy to report she is home, but many things have changed. Mom has some challenges with expressing herself, and seems most challenged in stressful situations. She is working with a speech therapist and a physical therapist, and is slowing getting her life back together. Her friends have been a source of amazement to me, as they prepare meals for my parents and visit on a regular basis. My dad is holding up pretty good and has been sending out a daily blog email of status on my mother’s health, which I think is ultimately a great deal of therapy for him. Keep them both in your thoughts.

Now with that going on, let’s talk travel - this year has been full of fun trips.

The most recent has taken me to New York, where I was able to catch up with my good friend Greg and enjoy a lovely home cooked meal with him in his new home. Additionally, I was able to celebrate my friend Noah’s birthday and have some fun times out with him (funny thing is that Noah lives in San Francisco, a former resident of New York, and I see him more in New York than I do in San Francisco). Later during the week, my traveling buddies (Steve and Leif) arrived and we all met up with more friends and we attended the annual Rites XXIX: Black Party event in New York. It was a great joy to have my two close friends with me and have us all share in that event together.

This past weekend I was able to enjoy a little time in Palm Springs for the annual pilgrimage to the White Party. The events were certainly more fun this year, the music happier, the crowd friendlier. As remarked by one friend, hopefully this is a change towards a better time in these community events. I really enjoyed this weekend time with my good friend Dan and his partner David at the lovely home they have in Cathedral City - the environment is relaxing and refreshing. Additionally, I was able to hang out with my buddy Eric who lives in Palm Springs and I was able to catch up with my good friends from Calgary, Neal and Denis and their friends Tom and Rome.

Soon, I will be jetting off to my first trip to London. I am very excited and looking forward to relaying what that trip is like.

Finally, other things in life are stable.

Coming soon, my partner John and I are planning a great European travel excursion on the Atlantis Barcelona to Rome Cruise, so stay posted for more to come on that.

Until my next post, Happy Spring.

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