HEAVEN ON EARTH

Embarking on a celebratory vacation through Western Canada’s peaks and valleys

- Sandy Sinclair

Having been born and raised in Manitoba, my husband, Rob, and I love our Prairie home but always enjoy the opportunity to travel and explore this great country. The reason for this trip was to celebrate my retirement after 31 years of teaching, which also coincided with our 25th wedding anniversary! What better way to acknowledge these two occasions than with a trip to Jasper National Park? So in late September of 2016, Rob and I packed up our SUV and headed west for a week of fun and adventure. I felt giddy, like a kid playing hooky in the first month of school. I must also admit that I felt a bit disoriented, sort of like a fish out of water, for taking a vacation during what had typically been the busiest time of my life for as long as I can remember. Aside from developing withdrawal symptoms due to being away from the new school year, I was excited at the prospect of having the freedom to embark on a long awaited and much anticipated celebratory vacation.