Different Backgrounds

Yesterday I went for a hike with a couple of friends and Carrie's dog, Meadow, who I have been dog-sitting for the last week. We hiked the Irving Nature Trail in St. John. Despite its name, it was actually a very pleasant hike through some woods and along a rocky and sandy beach. It was windy with the ocean waves crashing in and felt very raw, which I enjoyed. The hike was not too challenging, but good exercise nonetheless. Meadow certainly enjoyed it!

Of course, when one (or three) are walking, there is little else to do but chat, and it was though this conversation that I realized how "normal" my upbringing has been and how much of a "city boy" I am, despite my best efforts to be a camper. Kendra, one of the hikers, was born in the Northwest Territories and, when she was six, moved to Cambridge Bay, a very small town of 900 well above the tree line. She grew up celebrating a mingmunk festival (musk ox festival) and would go ice fishing each spring with her friends, hopping from ice floe to ice floe, dropping her jig into crevices.

Sean T, who also came hiking, has a similarly interesting and rural background. He's 40, has 2 kids and only recently received his undergrad degree. At 15 he dropped out of school and spent a year in Alaska long-line fishing. He's worked as a painter (fell off a ladder once and broke both legs and both arms at the same time) and lives on a very tiny island off the coast of Nova Scotia, population around 750.

Fascinating people, but very different backgrounds from my suburban, sheltered life. I'm really glad I'm getting to know folks like this. Gives me the courage to try new things and not worry so much about failing...