As a high-school kid living in Richmond, I opened my
first bank account at the CIBC branch in the lobby of
the MacMillan-Bloedel Building on Georgia. Being 25
years before ATM's arrived on the scene, this move had
nothing to do with easy-banking convenience. At the
time I had a fascination with high-rise buildings, and
this one intrigued me more than any other in downtown
Vancouver. I suppose it was my way of making a
connection with something I truly admired. And all
these years later, surrounded now by so many other
towers, most of them rising high above it, my esteem
hasn't diminished at all. - More than ever it feels
like a true work of art, the creation of a great
artist. Standing before most other office buildings
I see them as being the work of students of
architecture with no real creative talent, much less
creative genius. I wouldn't bother trying to justify
this opinion in so many words. There isn't room here
for an essay and besides, those sort of treatises
are usually written as pretentious efforts to
hype mediocrity. Great art can "speak" for itself.
The evening is my favourite time to view this building. I
love the gently glowing cubes of light framed inside heavy
squares of concrete. I passed by there recently, on a
foggy January night. The softness of the light was
enhanced by the mist; and as the graceful lines which
framed the light soared upwards, the sharp edges, and the
light, gradually dissolved and then disappeared into the
low ceiling of cloud. It had the feel of a mystical
palace. What a lovely image!
To view the work of Arthur Erickson click onto the image
of the building.
22nd (Sunday)
Walking down Robson thinking about
Minori. Not surprisingly, Vesna
drives in front of me tooting her
car horn. Hair trimmed this
evening by a lovely Korean girl
She speaks hardly a word of
English though. 'Girl from the
Kingdom of the Morning Sun'
won't be happening anytime soon
Unscheduled fall down the Rabbit
Hole this evening
23rd (Monday) [Burrard, Looking South]
Met Yumi as she was waiting for the
elevator. She's so charming, with
this bowing thing she does. Nice
talk with Vesna tonight, on the
phone. Told her about 'Three Years
on a Stone' as it relates to
Minori. She laughed
24th (Tuesday) [Burrard, Looking South]
Miserable sort of day. Met Victoria
in the basement, who's feeling
better now. Told me about feeding
her cat chocolate cake, & that
she'd invite me to dinner soon
25th (Wednesday) [Burrard, Looking South]
'Hey Richard' said Myle as I
walked up to the counter. Said she
sensed me coming without looking up
Told her treadmill had been
delivered, & could I bring her
another raspberry mango mousse
from The Bay? Light, brief snow
flurry this evening
26th (Thursday) [Burrard, Looking South]
Talking to Natalie this morning
Asked her if she ever sees Minori
Told me that Minori was going to
India. Said I think of her every
single day. She asked why. 'Because
I'm in love with her.' She asked
why, again. I hesitated, almost
saying 'Why not?' 'Do you love her
pretty little figure? Do you have
something in common?' 'I think we
do.' Six young guys at a parkade
exit, Library Square. With protest
signs waiting for Harper to come out
Talking to Rui Li. Cold, raw, grey
day
27th (Friday) [Burrard, Looking South]
28th (Saturday)
Talking to Myle, describing to her
my conversation with Natalie on
Thursday. She was a little puzzled
by Natalie's reaction, saying, "I
don't know why I like shopping. I
just do.' As we're talking Maggie
hands me an invitation to
experience 'The Healing Power of
Puti Meditation'. At 4:30 met
Yumi at Market Place. We sat for an
hour or so. She seemed to enjoy the
little translating chores I had for
her. Learned a lot about her. She's
the perfect face & tempermant for
'Empress'
March
3rd (Tuesday)
Bought Myle a couple of kiwi fruits
Told me she didn't feel great, a
problem with the urinary tract
again - That she'd paid $10,000 off
her credit card, leaving $7,000
balance - that she bought a sofa
bed, & 4 electronic MP3 gadgets,
one for every room - that her
fiance snores - & should we have
lunch together on Friday?...
Baeta points out her best friend,
from Korea, working now at Kins
Heavy rain this morning, sun this
afternoon, mild...
5th (Thursday)
Myle & Yumi both back at work
Yumi telling me she hadn't felt
well the last few days. That the
place she'd moved into, on Comox
across from Nelson Park, had a
lot of dust & dirt, & she might
have picked up a virus. Myle
charming this morning, as she
always is these days. Bought her
a couple of kiwi fruits & told
her about the bet I had with
Cindy about Maggie visiting the
Grand Canyon. I think she will
get there, Cindy doesn't
Charming little chat with Rui Li
Asked me about 'The Girl in
India'. Was she coming back?'
Suggesting what I should have
with the duck, next week
