30: I saw the future

And I never want to get there

Her name was probably something like Margaret. Janet, maybe? Or Elaine? I have an Elaine in my life, so I feel I would have remembered if her name was also Elaine. And I think she was too old to be a Janet.

We’ll call her Margaret.

I met Margaret on Christmas Day in 2008. After attending a large, Christmas lunch gathering with some friends and their family, I went with them to visit their grandmother. From there, we would go see Brad Pitt’s new movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons.

Grandma Davies was at what I always will call “The Edmonton General.” Edmonton’s first, big General Hospital (where I was born!), which over the course of my childhood transitioned to becoming more of a long-term care facility when other bigger and more modern hospitals could carry the patient load (I assume). It has lost all visual connection to its historic charm, but even today, there is this old, important feel to it with its downtown location. Like, if there was a hospital for someone to visit on Christmas Day in Edmonton, it should be the General.

Margaret was Grandma Davies’ roommate, and we were introduced to her upon our arrival. When I think back to Margaret at this moment, I only think of myself. I only think of how my memory of that meeting shapes so much of what I think lies ahead for me.