I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge.

That myth is more potent than history.

That dreams are more powerful than facts.

That hope always triumphs over experience.

That laughter is the only cure for grief.

And I believe that love is stronger than death.

– Robert Fulghum

 

 

 

Last week loneliness once again made the headlines in Vancouver.

Surrounded by a million people, the citizens of that beautiful city talk of feeling isolated and alone.

My only advice for these people?

Move to a small town like Kimberley.

 

 

 

Let me explain.

The other day I received an email that started like this,  “Is everything okay, Colleen? Maybe I’m off your blog list…”

“Well yes,” I wrote back, “thank you for asking, I’m fine…”

I went on to explain that since moving to the smallest town of my life, my social calendar is filled to bursting, leaving me little time to blog.

It all started innocently enough.

Why not join the choir? It’s only a Monday night practise, it’ll be fun to sing and meet some people. With no auditions, it sounded pretty relaxed. How easy is that?

But choir, like a gateway drug, lured me into thinking I had lots of time join in on the library-sponsored eight-week writing course. Besides, it would be over before Christmas, and it was only on Thursdays.

 

 

I think I might have mentioned in an earlier post that I started working part-time at the cool little kitchen store called the Grater Good?

But then choir practices ramped up for our pending Christmas concert. And now there’s an additional practise with the Kimberley Community Band on, yep, Thursday nights.

This past Monday, a young woman came to our choir practise so we could learn the sign language for Silent Night. Of course. So now, I’m following along on her videos every night so I can move my hands in the right direction.

Last Friday our choir was asked to sing at St. Eugene’s Mission. I couldn’t go because I was working until 10 pm for the Countdown to Christmas event where local businesses, special liquor licenses in hand, dispensed drinks and appies, while shoppers wandered in from the platzl. It seems my very once-in-awhile job has ramped up to handle the Christmas busy-ness.

On Saturday night our choir sang carols in front of the town’s bandstand until it was time to start the countdown.

 

 

The centre of town was stuffed with snowsuit-bundled children, and a plethora of scarf-and-toque wearing adults. As the final number was yelled out by the crowd, a switch was thrown and the entire square lit up with Christmas lights. I’m pretty sure I squealed louder than any child in the audience. It’s hokey and heartwarming all at once and oh-so-wonderfully small town.

Did I also mention our choir sang at the Remembrance Day ceremony at the cenotaph? Where the streets were detoured and blocked off to accommodate the masses of people filling the streets? This is what small town life is about; at any local event, almost every citizen shows up.

 

 

I am still trying to schedule my horseback riding lessons at the local ranch, but between the job, choir, writing homework, art and regular living stuff, and the soon-to-be-added snow sports, I’m not sure how to fit it in.

In the five months we’ve lived here (which includes the month we were away in France) there is no chance to be lonely but there are still wonderful moments to be alone. I’m writing this as the fireplace cracks and our Christmas lights glow on the snowy branches outside our windows.

 

 

Can you tell I like it here?

So, if, my dear Vancouver readers, you find yourself feeling isolated within all that big city hustle and bustle, might I suggest you join us in Kimberley?

This little version of Bedford Falls has homes that are still affordable and I promise that new friends will wrap you into their lives as thickly as the snow that blankets the pines.

If moving isn’t on your list of options, try your own version of this wherever you live:

Reach out, join in, volunteer, connect.

Sing, dance, hike and find other people who enjoy those things too.

Relationships are the colourful threads that weave us into our lives.

Together we make a lovely quilt.

 

 

 

 

Watch: Kimberley’s annual Platzl Light Up