Other Greats About Red Mile

Once in a while I venture out of the burbs, to do some real shopping and real dining. Yesterday's trip was to 17th Avenue (AKA The Red Mile) where I saw Dr. Kim Wilmot at Primary DR. This isn't your average doctor's office with stackable chairs, cramped reception and magazines you don't want to touch. No, this is uptown medicine. Zen design. Looks more like a spa. And when Dr. Wilmot comes into the conference room where I am seated, he shakes my hand like we are old friends. He asks about the family. And then with my medical records in hand, he begins to sift through all the  reports for mammogram, bone density, and blood chemistry. When he talks to me he looks at me and smiles. He asks tough questions and I give him tougher answers. Thirty minutes later, I leave. Assured. Confident. I am not going to die. I am not sick. I am aging. My foundation is crumbling but he assures me maintenance works. The receptionist takes my chart and then calmly tells me that I owe her enough to pay for groceries for a month. She glances at my reaction through her Fendi glasses. I am still breathing. Barely.

I leave their office and head west one block to the Devenish Building named after Calgary's first sheriff. It's a maze of boutique shops and  offices. I am particularly looking for SHEapparel. I'm not interested in anything that will make B's eyes pop out. No, I'm looking for a comfortable well fitting bra. Is that an oxymoron? After my experience with my mother a few weeks ago, I am very concerned about gravity. Kristy, recently arrived from Scotland and very professional, has me try on a bra that is my normal size. She adjusts the straps and then tells me that it is not right. She comes back with something much smaller but a cup size that is well now into the alphabet. Really? They make cup sizes all the way to Z she tells me. As I try it on, I wonder if my face can actually fit into the cup shape. It looks like it could. Kristy adjusts here and there and presto, I have what I was looking for. Comfortable. Well fitting. She brings me a few other designs to try. She's persistent but not pushy. I admire that in a sales associate. And when I make my final selection, she adds the others to my profile just in case someone dear and near to me wants to purchase said lingerie for me at a future date.

My last stop uptown finds me in Itza Bakery. Ms. Chan has undoubtedly the best almond croissants I have ever eaten. And her ham and cheese quiche is so rich and delicious. She didn't have any lemon tarts left so I tried the banana cream pie. I shared all these with my young women who came over later for a service project. They were equally pleased with Chan's baking. I'm glad I live far away from her shop or I would need that Size Z bra.

Next time I venture out of the burbs, I'm heading to Kensington to check out some PJs and have some Fiasco Gelato. And then Marda Loop. And I won't forget Inglewood. I love Calgary. It's not all white bread and Wal Mart.