Yesterday at Superstore, a young Asian lady approached me in the parking lot. 
"Excuse me, do you know how to get to University of the Fraser Valley from here?"

I started to point out roads, then stopped:  "By car?"
"No. Walking."
At this point I noticed her two bags, the rain which was getting harder, and started mentally doing the math. 
I said, "it's a long walk.  At least 45 minutes.  I'd take a taxi or the bus, but i don't know the bus routes."
Finally I asked, "How did you get here?"
With a pleasant smile and innocent tone she replied,"my friend dropped me off here after church."

I looked her one more time, weighing the potential threats that may lurk in this small Asian college girl who was on the wrong side of town, then offered her a ride.  She asked if I was going that direction.  "Not at all", I replied.

On the ride I asked her about school and found out it was her first semester taking a variety of arts courses including political science and psychology.  We talked about grocery stores near campus.  Dorm life.  Food on campus.  After dropping her off in front of her dorm, I had a moment of feeling good about myself for having helped this stranger in need.

That was quickly overshadowed by the thoughts that would not let m let go of the fact that she was ignorant to be all the way over at superstore with no ride home.  In the rain.  Not once did she seem embarrassed.  She thanked me, but not the desperate pleas of someone who was in over her head.  Not even a few tears of relief.  Was she banking on the fact that someone would give her a ride?  That she would be able to drop "church" into the conversation and some stranger would just drive her where she needed to go?  Now i just felt like a sucker.  On the other hand, maybe she was just that ignorant about getting around town and thought she could have walked.  But she didn't mention that on the way home. 

Like I said, there's something wrong with m when I can't just be happy that I gave a stranger a ride.

mvp and i have found a way to detach ourselves.
we are buying a home! we looked for a townhouse, desperate for a little more space (those cats just hog whatever they can), but ended up (thanks to a co-workers suggestion) at this place:

http://www.kingmabrothers.com/junction/gallery.php

as far as townhouse living goes, it has all the perks and hassles of strata but each home is detached.  we found exactly what we wanted:  a two car garage with room to park on the driveway, a downstairs suitable for extreme tv watching, a master bedroom large enough to house a king size bed and not look small, and a backyard (which as far as townhouses go, is pretty spacious.)  AND it's new.  so new in fact that we have stood in our living room without those silly walls blocking our view of baker.  it will be completely finished by the end of february.  so i only have pics from the showhome.  check out the link above for pics of the decorated showhome and pics belowfrom my cell phone (not very informative unfortunately). but look!... GRASS! right outside the basement doors.  and stairs from the upstairs deck down to the yard!  (i think i've lived in a condo too long.)



the only downside was that of the three colour homes in the complex (yellow, red, and green) ours will be yellow, which was our least favourite.  but i'm sure we'll learn to deal with it! 

now the fun task of selling my place. 

things i'm looking forward to:

• a two car garage
• driving into the garage and unloading groceries directly into the house.
• going up and down stairs (bellini is excited about his too).
• a walk in closet.
• a guest room AND an office.
• an island
• a view of baker

things i won't miss:

• elevators
• underground (and above ground) parking
• hallways
• no storage