Things Are Changing
March 8, 2026 – Trying Something New
I could not find a picture for the life of me for the blog post. So, why not a food pic of my breakfast from this morning, of which, my friend bought for me. It was delicious and unexpected. We sometimes go out for breakfast. It’s something I like to do, in particular, have a “hotel breakfast.” As a kid, we NEVER went to the hotel (or motel, for that matter) for breakfast. And, don’t even consider room service. It was not a thing that my parents did, and I see why. It’s expensive. Why not go through the McDonalds drive-thru to get a breakfast combo? (TBH: I did that on Saturday… LOL). Nonetheless, I wanted to try a new place in Prince George. We often go to the WhiteSpot, of which I do enjoy. My friend recommended Grama’s Kitchen at Grama’s Inn. I was game, and I heard some folks talk about this place, but never went.
On the way to the restaurant, my friend tried to describe the experience I was about to embark on. She said that the service is lively and entertaining and the food is homestyle. I was open and wanted to try something new. When we arrived to the Grama’s Inn, I did not realize that the entrance was on the side. The parking lot was almost full, much like the restaurant. It was a little establishment with lots of light. The two servers were very lively and entertaining, but also personal. They recognized my friend when she entered the restaurant. We found a table and went with the flow. There was a distinct rhythm to the place. I loved the natural light coming through the windows. It was super sunny this morning. And, I appreciated the homestyle service and food. The place was hopping the whole time we were there.
I was also surprised that we both knew people who were at the restaurant. It was clearly a place to go for the locals. As you can see from the photo, the portions are huge and the food was very delicious. I even got raisin bread for my toast (my choice and never had that before with my breakfast) and I chose the shredded hashbrowns, sunny side up eggs, and sausage. One of the things I do like about my meals is lots of variety and lots of choice. This experience met that criteria in spades, as well as being a “hotel breakfast.” There is something that’s heightened for me when I can have not just breakfast out, but at a hotel. This place did not disappoint and I am likely to come her again. I am so glad that my friend took me there. I’m not sure if I would have went on my own. It was a good day to celebrate International Women’s Day.
Why does this all matter?
I feel that this breakfast experience serves as a metaphor of my week and weekend. I have a zillion things on the go (and I am not complaining because it is work that I feel very aligned to) but there are only so many hours in a day and week. This week was Weaving Words, an Indigenous writers’ festival in Prince George. I have heard about this event over the last few years, but never went. This year, I felt compelled to go. A good reason why is, my friend, Carolyn Roberts, who was one of the writers and speakers of the event reached out to me to say that they would be here in Prince George and wondered if we could connect. I did not realize that she was going to be one of the speakers (until I looked into it). We went out for dinner at the beginning of the week, and I went to one of her events on Wednesday that she was speaking at and then to an evening event at Omineca Art Centre. I bumped into another friend there as well, and we listened to a few writers that night, including Richard Van Camp.
Unfortunately, I could not attend all of the events for this writers’ festival. I had to work, I had meetings, and I was teaching. Time is a premium lately, and I decided to go to the beading session at the Two Rivers Art Gallery with my daughter on Friday afternoon with Crystal Behn. I loved that session. I came to that session not in the greatest of moods and beading is a good teacher. I did not follow the pattern that was suggested, unlike my kid. I wanted to make a heart, and yes, it looks blobbular and free-wielding. At the end of the session, with some homework to do, a person at the workshop said, hearts are one of the hardest things to bead. HUH. That tracks. I’m pretty happy with the process. You can see over time in the beading, my energy shifted from a form of “grumpiness” to one that was more peaceful and accepting. I was not planning to go to the evening event at Books and Company, but my friend encouraged me to go.
No regrets.
I never went before. Saw some familiar faces and I was sitting in the front row. We got to listen to Richard Van Camp and Katherena Vermette speak and read to us. It was AMAZING and I was such in awe with how clear and confident each of them were about who they are, where they are from, and their craft. I enjoyed Richard talking about how he writes and what inspires him. I have been part of a couple of workshops with Richard as Zoom sessions, so seeing him in person was absolutely a bucket-list experience. Consistently, he is so generous in helping others in their writing journey, and once again, he offered a “one month” opportunity to send him a “what if” piece of writing, and he will provide feedback on your work. I don’t know how he does it, but I always appreciate his invitation. With Katherena, I just enjoyed her reading and embodying her poetry. I loved watching her move her hand and read her words with animation and ease. She took me on a ride with her words, and I was so honoured that she was here in Prince George to share them.
What a way to end the work week… despite the volume of unread email in my in-box… and all of my intentions of what I wanted to achieve this week. I just loved that I was able to see a few events from the ‘Ut’loo Noye Khunni – Weaving Words Celebration that highlights Indigenous storytelling in its many forms. Often professional learning is one of the first things that gets struck from the list of things to do. I am so grateful to at least attend a few sessions and not foregoing the whole event, like I have in previous years. Thank you to all of the artists, organizers, and volunteers who made this event possible. You have inspired me in many ways, and I hope that I can also find the courage and motivation to share that deep love that you have about where you are from, what you do, and who you are. The joy that you have shared and demonstrated will be in my memories and my heart. Thank you for your generosity and welcoming us in.