Of all the vintage Medicine Hat postcards I've come across in my search, this one seemed special for two reasons. The first was that I'd never seen it before - not in my archive searches or online. The second thing was that it featured houses, not a specific landmark, along Esplanade Street (now 1st street) very close to where the current Arts & Heritage Centre now stands.
Today this portion of 1st Street is pretty much all civic buildings and offices, with the exception of the Ewart-Duggan House which is just a few doors down from where this postcard was photographed. The only real giveaway to the location in this picture is St. John's church peaking through in the background. I returned to the corner to try and get a modern image of the location today.
The back of the postcard is dated August 15, 1917 and is addressed to someone in Calgary. The fact that it isn't postmarked tells me that it was sent with someone who was making the trip there. It's a pretty fascinating find given how much has changed on that corner in nearly a century.
In the grand tradition of photographing the vehicles I've owned, this beautiful spring weather inspired this latest set. After my '89 Buick and '99 Jaguar, the Chrysler is really the continuation on a theme for me. I like my big sedans. I like a comfortable ride and all the bells and whistles that come along with a luxury car. And like most guys, I like a car that has some guts when you put your foot down.
The 300 isn't a classic yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if in 20 years these cars are looked back on favorably. I still argue that they're one of a handful of mainstream vehicles out there today that actually have some distinct design behind them. That was a big deal to me coming from the Jag.
I was also keen to find a 300 with all the upgrades I wanted, and found them in this one. From an mp3 ready stereo, dual climate control, full leather, heated seats, upgraded dash computer, bluetooth connectivity, steering wheel controls, sunroof, etc, etc. - this car doesn't leave me in want of much. With another summer of road trips ahead, I can't wait to really break her in. I might finally get around to a bit of customization too. My cars have always just been big toys anyway.
Over the weekend I had the pleasure of attending the wedding for my good friends Andrea and Travis. It was a very intimate gathering of close friends and family on the rooftop of the Esplanade, followed by dinner at Desert Blume, and an after-party back at their place. As a Star Wars fan myself, I think any couple who has a wedding on May the 4th just so they can say "May the 4th be with you" deserves bonus points.
For all the weddings I've been to, this one was unique. Andrea and Travis really wanted to keep everything simple and low key, and the short guest list made it seem even more special. In the end, it actually meant the whole group was able to interact with one another. Sometimes you barely feel like you have a chance to say hi to the bride and groom, but that wasn't the case here. I loved catching up with her family, joking around with everyone, and enjoying the ambiance of such a tight-knit gathering. The Dark Side blend coffee favors were a nice touch too.
One of the highlights of the wedding was seeing Andrea's dad walk her down the aisle. Ted has been in a wheelchair for the most part since having a stroke several years ago, but he wanted to do this for Andrea's big day. He did really well and it was a touching moment.
Andrea and I have been close friends since high school, and because they weren't having his and her wedding party's, she asked me to be her witness. I couldn't have been happier to oblige. It was an awesome day with beautiful weather, great friends, terrific food, and plenty of shared stories. No doubt, this is a wedding that we'll all be reminiscing about for years and years.
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