My Electronic Scrapbook: Westwood Plateau, British Columbia

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After we had made our decision to go on a different path, life on the mountain became even more enchanted. I had always lived life with my heart and instincts and I really thought we were doing the right thing. That the universe would take care of us.



We even celebrated our first Halloween in Westwood Plateau. This was our first opportunity as a couple to really give out candy. We lived in a basement apartment of a house with the nicest landlords who told the kids to go to the backyard for more treats.



We did not have any money to spend on specialty items so we made our own which I think is quite charming.



This is the first Drop Dead Fred ever created in our relationship and Reg wanted a photograph of me with him so of course, I obliged!



Then came Reg's birthday and our dear friend Cathy got him a birthday day!



So of course we had to go out and celebrate. We were feeling quite hopeful at the time that everything was going to get better.



This was the first time I noticed evidence of bears in Ridge Park. I must admit, it freaked me out. But I stayed open. I still went into the woods alone on my hikes. I think we got walkie-talkies at this point though but spooky voices would come out of mine during my walks which unnerved me.



Then one day a delivery guy was delivering something (imagine) and I heard his voice crack as he yelled with much shock.... "Deer!" It reminded me so much of that scene in Jaws when someone yells with disbelief, "Shark!" for the first time.

In all my time on the mountain, I had never seen any trace of deer. This beautiful buck had wandered from somewhere, walking up and down the sidewalk.


This is Reg's favourite photo. He says the deer looks like he is posing for a tango portrait. 
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I stood across the street, dumbfounded following the deer as he ate lots and lots of flowers. Then, he started to walk towards me. Across the street! And of course, a car came so I ran out into the street with my arms waving so they would not hit the deer. Which, of course, took off.

It is funny now because deer are like alley cats on Vancouver Island. They are everywhere and seeing them became sort of normal but this... this was very unusual.



And then it happened. I was hiking and I saw what at first looked like a giant bee hive in the tree. I knew the woods well by now and knew this was not usually here. And then a head turned to look at me!

It was a barred owl. And I just had to get out my camera.



Which made the owl take flight. You can see him as a blur at the bottom of the photograph. He flew right over my head and I just stood there amazed, not realizing he could have gouged my eyes out easily. My heart was so open at this point. I was just so grateful for this magical moment.


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He followed me from branch to branch for a while so I sat down and just communed with him. He eventually got bored and flew away but he is always with me. Ever since then, I have felt the presence of an owl in my heart.

Something in me changed that day. I have felt him inside me ever since. When things are so dark, I connect with the energy of the owls who can see in the dark with their black eyes. He helps keep me strong and shows up in my dreams. It gives me hope I will see the barred owls of the west coast again one day.