I'm Sure Calgary Has Plenty of Popular Gay People

My first impression of Calgary was not a good one. I had just visited Vancouver, which is a remarkably beautiful city, and was really disappointed in the landscape transition from British Colombia to Alberta.

After all, Calgary is a sprawling city built on prairie land. The terrain never really changes. The biggest park in the city doesn't have a single tree. All I see heading into Calgary are a wealth of densely packed together houses and yellow grass.

Calgary sucks, I think to myself, simultaneously wondering why my subconscious happens to remain so immature.

Then a funny thing happens on my way to loathing Calgary.

I find out that good friends of my mother were visiting at the same time, so I call them at the nearest pay phone. They are in town for an Olympic pin convention (why wouldn't they be) and have never really left their hotel. They have a meeting in an hour, then leave in the morning. In order to see them, I must expertly navigate Calgary.

As it turns out, I am unable to expertly navigate a large city minutes after arriving, so I stop at a gas station. The two clerks are just about the nicest people I have ever met. They break out a map and write detailed instructions on how to find my friend's hotel. Intrigued by this project, they sign the van.

The guy is wearing a wristband that says "Life is a journey, not a destination," so he scrawls this expression on the back. Underneath, the girl writes "Michelle, Calgary's favorite homo!" I'm not sure that should be a self-appointed title, but it made me laugh nonetheless.


My mad dash to say hi to friends led to me experiencing the city, and I must say, Calgary grows on you. Between the people, the wide open spaces, and the lower gas prices, it might even be a comparable home to its flashier neighbor to the West.

It's even better on Canadian Thanksgiving, when the downtown area is so empty that wildlife confidently blends into the urban scene.


Be sure to check tomorrow's blog for more on my stay in Calgary, with a variety of tales including but not limited to: vomit, performance art, and the tree of life.