On our way to and from Regina last week, we stopped in Medicine Hat to visit some friends. Kris and Safira hosted us in their super hip apartment. The place reminded me of what natural cohousing would look like so I felt right at home and envious. It’s a row of brick apartments of varying sizes marching up the side of a hill. The tenants, many of whom work in some fashion in the arts district, share a back yard complete with shared garden tools and clothes lines.
I joined them for their softball game – a double header. Our team, the Culture Vultures, won both. I hadn’t played softball in 13 years I think. Managed to get on base a couple times and catch a couple fly balls. Great fun. Great people.
On our way back through, we met up with them at the Medalta Historic Clay District. Safira is the museum coordinator, but she also coordinates the Thursday night market which was abuzz with vendors of food and crafts. I had a heaping plate of curries and a mojito before being led on a personal tour of the museum.
I was thoroughly impressed with the local artist works and the museum. Medicine Hat was once the major clay product hub in Canada for about 30 years until the 1950s.
The highlight however was spending time with my longtime friend Kris. He’s a thoughtful, good humoured, civic minded librarian. Good cook too.