Dangerfield!

It's about to get sentimental up in here (or, Maybe I'm Amazed)

So an old friend of mine recently had a baby, and he sent me some cute-ass pictures of his new son on his very first day on the outside.  Of course I replied with the usual “congrats, you made a people, I’m in awe” (which, though it’s my standard line about newly made people, is nonetheless very sincere).  Anyways,  he replied with this, which I reckon should basically be in every mother’s day card everywhere.

“Thank you, as am I. I spent the afternoon with the lil’ guy, and although he doesn’t do much (sleep, chirp, feed, repeat), it’s remarkable to look at him and think about last Tuesday and realize that on Tuesday, you weren’t on the outside, and it’s only Saturday. That guy there, the guy in the photo there, he’s only technically been around (in a noticeable sense) for 4 days. Think about that, 4 days. And as cute and adorable as he may be, it’s damn scary as well, he’s so defenseless, try as he might, he’s not keeping himself alive, it’s [mother’s name]’s role and to a lesser extent mine now and that’s a concept that is pretty frightening, especially considering that I barely keep myself alive and functioning.
As amazing as watching the early life another person develop, watching the dedication and skill of another person, so selflessly and skillfully look after and keep him going, that is amazing. Have you ever seen those nature programs about mother and baby? In a way, it’s just like that, I’ve seen the ones with polar bears and tigers and all sorts, but to see it happen, and to see such emotion literally personified, it’s really amazing. I suppose that’s my round about way of saying, wow, the capabilities of your gender are amazing, and now that my mum is here, I look at her now in a whole different way. It’s amazing to think that that was once me, and some kind lady gave up an amazing amount to keep me alive and in return wanted nothing more than for me to be a decent person and to at least pass along the wisdom I’ve acquired in my years here.”

lifeaquatic asked: How long have you lived in the Yukon, and how do you like the winters?

Thanks for asking a question, especially as I demanded it.

I’ve been here only since May of 2009, so this is my first winter.  I like it fine.  There are certain things that make you feel oddly extra-Canadian, like plugging in your car in the morning or having a basket of mittens and toques beside your front door.

It hasn’t been that cold here in Whitehorse, but I was up in Dawson City in November and it was -35.  I was out at a cabin in the middle of nowhere, and sent the caretaker of the cabin into town to buy cheese or eggs or something, while I fired up the outside barbecue and made moose steaks.  It was silent and strange and I felt like a badass even just lighting the barbecue on my own. Stoking a fire is also highly satisfying, though I’m not that great at woodchopping.

My house here is heated by oil, which is very expensive, and every time I hear the furnace fire up I turn into somebody’s cheapskate dad, like “who touched the thermostat??!?”, even though I live alone.

Questions?

Not a one on my “ask” feature.  I show you all the best hiding spot in my childhood home, and you still don’t want me to explain the difference between wet cold and dry cold?

Hmmpf.