we accidentally walked by canada's oldest anglican church, and the original site of dalhouisie college, now halifax city hall. saw st. mary's basilica, with its 128 ft. spire. strolled the pedestrian mall of granville st., and the waterfront of sackville st. skirted the public gardens.
poked our heads into the krazee economy shoe shop -- a ziggedy string of rooms, formerly of function and production, now a bar. had a draught at maxwell's plum. noted as a hotspot, but i think we old folks were just out too durn early to rub elbows with the beautiful people. however pretty the locals might be towards last call. the asthmatic tourette's guy drove us outta there.
on sunday, we saw the windy sideways rain that must depress the hell out of haligolians while it drenches and freezes them all winter.
we did not see a moose or a whale.
we did see a very drunk albino struggling to stay upright while crossing the street, as well as a very bottom-heavy dwarf lady swilling cheap chardonnay.
locals saw the strangeness of a woman in a skirt: me. i can't tell you how many SHOCKED looks i got, plus unabashed once- and then-once-again-overs from men, women and the gayz. weird. add wolf-whistles the few minutes i was alone. is there some local custom that legs get aired only in july and august that wasn't on the novia scotia homepage? i knew enough to wear long sleeves to morocco, ya know?
my favorite sight of all? the owner, off the clock, off the grid (mostly), free of cares or places to be, for longer than i have ever seen him, in almost 8 years of him having me. i was there as his companion and his convenience. it was very liberating and very fulfilling to be just that, without a personal agenda. we didn't squabble in the car, negotiate over drinks or meals, or tolerate something for which the other had zero interest, in the name of keeping the peace. no art galleries, no schedules, no theater or fou-fou spots trying his patience. tv, food, beer, sex and naps when he wanted. he did indulge me with oysters, but he likes those too.
separately, we each have traveled to spain. he with his wife and kids and me with an ex. i lost track of how many times e. made me cry on that trip from his relentless dickery. although he's very much not a whiner, i know the owner's trip to that sunny laid-back place was neither.
besides the stoopid sadistic hell of wallpapering a room, i don't know that anything demonstrates a couple's compatibility more so than travel, especially on a car trip. over the oysters, the owner observed his amazement at how often we agree. that together we must most often be right, because otherwise, it would be impossible for me to be that obsequiously and consistently harmonious -- especially after having called me mouthy and opinionated only the day before, lol. we don't have the tension or self-induced pressures of having to prove ourselves smarter or better than the other. we're both brainy and well-rounded. he knows stuff i don't, and vice-versa. there is no struggle for balance or power, because he has it and i accept that. i also understand it doesn't lessen my worth or his faith in me. if anything, it strengthens it, because i keep the pact.
after we were back home, i didn't need or want to "get away" from him, which real
ly surprised me. i missed him as soon as i left his side.
ly surprised me. i missed him as soon as i left his side.we're good.
it's good.
i'm lucky.
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