#39 Rutherford

blue tarps on trailers
pink and green birdhouses
teal fences
the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who still standing (Christmas '17)
a man walking with cross-country skies
two frolicking dogs in MacEwan Park having their selfies' taken

a patch of mulch and a sign that reads:
'Trees will be removed for roadway widening'

passing over the Blackmud Creek Bridge
and noticing an old red roofed barn in the ravine
was there a farm here when Rutherford was premier?

'March 9 to 11 Planned Detours'
in our ever evolving city

McKernan/Belgravia LRT Station

a plaque proclaiming:
'Officially opened April 25, 2009'

maintenance workers in orange vests
in conversation with the driver
waves as the train leaves the station

the promise of music:
a woman with a synthesizer
a man with an electric guitar
another with a cello case

recalling a recent conversation with our aunt
about McKernan Lake 70 plus years ago
wetlands in the middle of the city

emerging from the underpass into bright sun and shadows of birds in flight

the last of the second
tomorrow March

a sign to COAST
as we coast into spring

#6 Millgate

i almost miss the bus but the considerate driver
kindly waits for me to board
nearly full i find a spot exchanging a smile with my seat mate
a baby is yawning
people seem a little weary

mild
bright sun
but still winter
enough already

among the many locations along the way:
Lock Solid
LP Tent
Swoop First Aid and Hot Tub Wars
Fancy Stairs and Railings
Portal of Glory

we pass The Mattress Man
Bruin Centre
and Elm Business Park

ProMax
The Spa Spot
Work Authority and Battery World
the Tudor Tack Shoppe and Baker's Exotic Birds

someone is wearing cologne
no one is talking
no phones are ringing

we quietly make our way
all of us riding along
together

Bus stop #2754

109th street just south of the High Level Bridge
across from the high-rise that a friend used to call 'God's Handbag'

nearly March/the tail end of winter
lipstick imprinted cigarette butts in the snow

the Metro Cinema marquee at the Garneau:
~A Fantastic Woman
~Phantom Thread
~Jane
~Revolting Rhymes

runners and coffee runners past The Smile Zone
Red Bike
and The Sugarbowl

Eager Beaver moving van

'Weekend Breakfast open at :00AM'

a young man crossing the street
in a kelly green sweater (no coat)
45 degrees F warmer than usual in the arctic
...i think he's onto something

#8 Abbottsfield

10 orange school buses parked in front of City Hall
People You Can Count On
Take 5 Time for Coffee
Sure Success Driving School
Heart to Heart Jewelry
and Love is in the Air---Shop at Pioneer
a yellow custard bungalow
a plastic owl perched atop Lou Manor
and a white dove by Marylin Apartments

wondering about the other passengers
and how they draw their 8's:
a circle on top of a circle
or a spiral link?

thinking today of a dear friend
with an infinity tattoo
far far away

Bus stop #1457

near the Westin on 100 street just north of Jasper
waiting across from the Canada Permanent Building (1910)
the former home of The Japanese Village
next to the McLeod 'Bvilding'
a reminder of what stays, comes and goes
valentine paper hearts adorning the boarded up windows
a winged ornate crest over the entranceway
welcoming any spirits
crossing the threshold

#94/#15/#9/#1

pylons in the snow
red flag markers in the snow
pink balloon in the snow
grey hard hat on the road in the snow
the impression of angel wings in the snow
ominous pink paint swatches on tree trunks standing (for now) in the snow
construction workers in the snow (not a Family Day for everyone)
'No Lot Splitting' signs in the snow
newly built skinny homes in the snow
overcast day turning to sunshine in the snow
and the smell of someone eating an orange
on the bus
as we ride
through the snow

#15 Eaux Claires

signs along the way...
Ryder Daddy
Bridal and Tuxedo Junction
Paws the Cat Cafe
Choose Kindness
Embrace Peculiarity

I see you
Looking at me
Looking at you
Looking at me

Make Life Better
Cheer on the Ooks
and Rocket Towing

LRT car 1074 A

the view from the High Level
and the two Edmo hemispheres
pining a little for the old Walterdale Bridge
the sound and vibrations when crossing
new moon
solar eclipse
and half of the second
done
dusted
an ice free zone near the south bank
and dappled sunlight
filtering through
a reminder that bit by bit
we're headed
the other way

Bus stop #1322

brisk wind means cold arrow fingers for Cupid
and for whoever left their Team Canada mitts
on the bench
in the snow

#1 West Edm Mall

riders' sartorial splendour:

~pastel pink bunny earmuffs
~candy apple backpack
~burgundy puffy coat
~fuchsia socks in velveteen magenta chelsea boots
~cherry red infinity scarf

cinnamon hearts
crinkly candy wrappers
phone chimes

very very valentine

Bus #4426

returning from five days in Vancouver
and the unexpected surprise of sunshine
to today's shroud of clouds
February umbrellas in Edmonton
lulled by rhythmic exhalations of wiper blades
after nearly wiping out (slip sliding!)
the chirping of birds
and kind gestures of fellow passengers
subtle reminders that with a little
mettle
salt
gravel dusting
careful footsteps
we'll make our icy way

Bus stop #2326

Freezing rain warning:
'A patchy area of rain over central Alberta
and will continue to track southeastward through the evening.
Rain falling onto cold, snow covered surfaces
may result in slippery conditions.'
Slipping down the walk
Sliding down the walk
Somehow managing to stay upright
More or less walking the walk

#151 Kind Edward Park

101st and MacDonald Drive
the magpies of McDougall
scampering about on snow covered rooftops
but were they there to hear
Philip Glass?
Carmina Burana?
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy?
resonating memories
white black and blue
pica picas
tending the church
atop Bellamy Hill

Bus stop #1243

huddled
bundled
waiting
waiting
waiting

a question from a man
looking for Manpower
as he searches for the address
sighs 'too many papers'
finally he finds it:
100 ave and 101st

explaining that the avenue numbers are higher
as you head north
it's 'that way'

he sets off to the south
and i look across the street
to Allwest Demolition
and what was once the bank building
steel/iron girders
hang like severed branches
as the wrecking ensues
a bit like a scene
from Terry Gilliam's 'Brazil'
as the 151 rolls up
not a moment too soon

12:12pm Grandin/Gov't Centre

the 'Next Stop' recording
not exactly as announced...
out of step
slightly out of time
maybe every thing moves more slowly
on a snowy day

a reluctant recipient
of an invitation to Ride the Thread
the yarns of the envelope untied
considered
then restrung intact
for someone else

at the end of the day
i wonder if the people who clean
the trains and buses might find one of these
would they
open it?
read it?
take it home?
or leave it in place
to ride another day

#80 Southgate

rail cars parked on the tracks

along the route of Kiwanis Safety City

11:11 am past the Truck Driving Training Institute

through the neighbourhood of turquoise teal shutters

and Sainte Jeanne d'Arc

slow going round Avonmore Park

Time Machine Motor Sports

and Signs of All Kinds

a fender bender a few blocks before the sign advising

'Caution Maneuvering Buses'

counting down to Happy Hour on Tires

lunch at Bubba's Drive Thru BBQ

and the promise of

All the Way Metal Drilling

02:02

the symmetry of GroundHog Day

#5 Westmount

the first of the second
we move so slowly
bundled in our coats and parkas
jostling down Jasper
(sad news of an elk in the Park)
past the old General
and Rabbit Rabbit Tattoo
the No.600 brick building
signs for Nashville Hot Chicken
and Music Lessons in the snow
still standing holiday planters
bows, boughs and baubles
festive remnants
on the return so many 5's
555
my totem
a nice way to begin
the month of hearts

Bus stop #1620

frosty day head count:

Pikachu toque

Pokemon toque

black beret

pink headscarf

robin's egg blue toque

fuzzy brown cloche

grey slouchy tam

Canada toque

Team Canada toque

ribbed multi-coloured stripey toque

wolf eared scarf/hood

mauve faux fur trim

(better that than the real deal)

Oilers toque

game day in the icy Ice District