That bubble that we create in times away is very quickly burst when life, reality and regular routines hit once again.

 Last day in Fairmont...foggy and ice just beginning to form and one last bike ride before packing up.

This is what I came back to...a missing rain barrel   and blown over on its side in the yard ...obviously must have been gusty winds in the last week!

BUT picked up from the kennel dogs all bathed and glad to be back in familiar places.

“ It’s just another small town Saturday night “ wails the Connie Kaldor song from my car CD player “when the girls know they’re pretty…and the boys know they’re right… the sunset is going down, the groceries are brought, the choir’s had its practise, and trucks start rolling into town, they’re parking by the pub in the fading light. Just another small town Saturday night.”  “You gotta drink till you feel all right, You gotta drink till you get a little tight… it’s just another small town Saturday night “

What is the joke about the intimacy of small town knowledge…sneeze in your soundproof attic and a granny will ask if you have pneumonia!

Small town hospitality, live music, good conversation, rants and story telling were on the menu this past weekend. The venues ranged from a Scottish family pub to warming hands around an outdoor fire as the main street was blocked off and the downtown Christmas lights were turned on.  The whole valley in summer tourist season can peak at about 40,000, but was told that on the voters list for Invermere about 2700 people.

Friday night at Angus McToogles restaurant http://www.angusmctoogles.com enjoyed a lovely meal. This included an appetizer Mozza Sticks, crispy, breaded Mozzarella served with Marinara dipping sauce; a half order of tangy tender pork side ribs grilled with chef’s own Angus BBQ and cheesecake with Mango & Blueberry sauce. Seating about 60, there was a very informal and family type of atmosphere.

These young girls requested Puff the Magic Dragon and also swooned to the Unicorn song.

A harp, wooden flute, and many acoustic and electric guitars added to the liveliness of the evening.

Between 5-8 PM on Saturday, the town giant spruce was lit up with white Xmas lights: hot chocolate was served, craft tables and ski promotions lined main street,: Santa received requests; all the small shops were open including harp playing in the shoe store, uniquely decorated displays as this skeleton of an ancient Russian cave bear and ancient mollusks.

Fairies danced on tall stilts,  and hands warmed around the fire pits with children, dogs and older ladies.

So small town Saturday night continued at the family pub and probably abit beyond some of my comfort zone But three or so pints of Keith’s pale ales later, two being my usual limit and missing two of the music sets I had come to see, ended up sharing a table with two local guys. Both  were friends,  single dads, probably mid 40s to early 50s. Started talking kids and the story telling that comes of fiercely protective, but proud fathers, …then to relationships, and finally “how it is now” with business and “ state of the valley.” Even heard about the tragedy of a large spruce or cedar in the center of town that had been deliberately cut down in the middle of the night many years ago. My usual talent of getting others to talk, backfired abit in this conversation…”so tell us about you, social worker working up north” and..”So you got rid of your old man how many years ago….” and it was the beers talking…  The last conversation was the suggestion that the three of us should get together; revise or start up, a local, but now defunct 9 years ago, family restaurant on the highway and where one of the guys had been a cook, but recently kidnapped the sign in the back of his truck.

At this point I extricated my self and enjoyed the final music set, a great combination of Celtic and country by Mike and Marty.

“ It’s just another small town Saturday night “