During the past year, there have been a few occasions where through hosting "Making Waves" I have been stopped in my tracks and experienced an "oh my gosh" moment. An out-of-the-blue email that I received last evening was the beginning of exactly one of those "oh my gosh" moments.
In two weeks, it will be two years since I spent two nights at the Elizabeth Parker Hut at Lake O'Hara in Yoho National Park. This was my first ever experience staying at an Alpine Hut of Canada. Being a beginner at this, I was green about everything and a tad nervous. It was intimidating being amongst the very experienced.
My first morning there, I woke so very early. It was still dark, I had enough sleep, I could see a small light through a crack in the door, some one else was up in the kitchen. I quietly got out of my sleeping bag and tip-toed my way to the kitchen. A petite lady with an angelic look was busy sorting water buckets, boiling the water and pouring it. I was desperate to have my morning coffee but had no idea about the water purifying system nor the color-coded bucket system. She told me she was preparing enough water for everyone for the day and she pointed to the safe water I could use to make my coffee. She spoke very quietly and softly and taught me the coding and purifying system.
We chatted about being morning people and how we just wanted to get up once we woke up, and get on with our days. She told me how she loved the peacefulness of the early morning. I sipped my coffee as we chatted and she continued on preparing water for everyone. I remember looking at her and wondering how can someone be so vibrant and glowing at this hour of the morning out in the wilderness! We chit-chatted a bit more sharing a few more thoughts then I went on with my day, and she went on with hers.
We never did exchange names.
Beginning with that out-of-the-blue email I received last evening, and a few more back and forth emails last evening and this morning with an acquaintance, now two years later since being at that Alpine Hut, I now know that soft spoken, angelic lady who I shared the peaceful early morning with and who taught me all about water sorting and purifying was Michelle McNeill. You were taken from your mountaineering friends and family much too early! May you rest in peace!
Yes Michelle, I will choose my steps carefully!
In two weeks, it will be two years since I spent two nights at the Elizabeth Parker Hut at Lake O'Hara in Yoho National Park. This was my first ever experience staying at an Alpine Hut of Canada. Being a beginner at this, I was green about everything and a tad nervous. It was intimidating being amongst the very experienced.
My first morning there, I woke so very early. It was still dark, I had enough sleep, I could see a small light through a crack in the door, some one else was up in the kitchen. I quietly got out of my sleeping bag and tip-toed my way to the kitchen. A petite lady with an angelic look was busy sorting water buckets, boiling the water and pouring it. I was desperate to have my morning coffee but had no idea about the water purifying system nor the color-coded bucket system. She told me she was preparing enough water for everyone for the day and she pointed to the safe water I could use to make my coffee. She spoke very quietly and softly and taught me the coding and purifying system.
We chatted about being morning people and how we just wanted to get up once we woke up, and get on with our days. She told me how she loved the peacefulness of the early morning. I sipped my coffee as we chatted and she continued on preparing water for everyone. I remember looking at her and wondering how can someone be so vibrant and glowing at this hour of the morning out in the wilderness! We chit-chatted a bit more sharing a few more thoughts then I went on with my day, and she went on with hers.
We never did exchange names.
Beginning with that out-of-the-blue email I received last evening, and a few more back and forth emails last evening and this morning with an acquaintance, now two years later since being at that Alpine Hut, I now know that soft spoken, angelic lady who I shared the peaceful early morning with and who taught me all about water sorting and purifying was Michelle McNeill. You were taken from your mountaineering friends and family much too early! May you rest in peace!
Yes Michelle, I will choose my steps carefully!
A special post - it doesn't quite seem fair.
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