Friends and beach and rest

Friends and beach and rest

True friendships are rare in this world. To me, real friendships pick up where they left off not matter how much time goes by. I value these friendships above all else especially because I travel so much. Right now I am visiting two friends who I know from my home province of Ontario. Graham has been in my life since I was the ripe age sixteen, we wakeboarded together for my whole career in that sport and we have kept our friendship running since. While he was at Lakehead University he met Lori and when I saw them together, as I was passing though Thunder Bay one summer, I knew they were great together. I was lucky Lori was so inviting and accepted me as a friend almost instantly. We too grew close over the years and when they finally got married last year I was asked to be a part of their special day as a Bride’s maid.

Today I am visiting with them at Waikuku beach just outside of Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand. They are finishing up their Ph.Ds and have been living here for the past four years. I visit them almost every time I come down to New Zealand which I am very grateful for. This year I have met their new edition to the family, Tazman. He is literally a bundle of joy, always laughing and smiling at the world and people around him. He is defiantly one of the best babies I have spent time with and I am sure Graham and Lori feel fortunate to have a happy baby; it makes it a lot easier when you are trying to complete an important thesis. My two friends are model parents in my eyes with their hands on approach to parenting and abundant love that floats around their home. I feel so welcomed here as it is a very relaxing place to be and helps balance me out between the snowboarding world and the real world out there.

Yesterday I went for a run on the beach where I felt so free with the sea breeze on my face and the feeling of my feet sinking into the sand with every push off the ground. I loved the liberty of running where ever I wanted to and hearing the waves crashing on the beach. I can’t believe people run on treadmills around here, what a waste.

Needless to say, I am enjoying my time away from the mountains. I have amazing friends here who love me and I am surrounded by an environment full of natural beauty; probably the reason why it took me so long to make a blog entry. This time here gives me a chance to recharge my body and mind and mounts my hunger for the snow again, both vital pieces for staying focused and in the game.