‘How was your trip into the Kootenay’s last weekend?’ Camp wanted to know.

‘I love that drive through all these different climate zones, into the heart of the Purcell mountains along Kootenay lake. Nelson today is a bustling, affluent town with scores of restaurants and sports stores. Not the depressed and struggling town of the 80’ies when every second house was for sale for below $ 100’000 and there were no jobs,’ I said.

‘That’s when the pot industry brought in some hard cash to the floundering economy,’ Camp said.

‘You’re right. There was an exhibit in 2022, in the midst of the pandemic, put on by the Nelson Museum, Archives and Gallery called ‘Grow Show’ about exactly that. Now there is a book out documenting the activism and the underground economy of the early growers in and around Nelson. Quite fascinating how the cops often looked the other way, the local businesses pretended that the rolls of poly and the fertilizers were for tomatoes and carrots, paid for in cash.’

‘And it all ended with legalization, didn’t it?’

‘It sure changed the business model. Not everybody joined the government growers with all their fees, requirements and safeguards which made growing the stuff not lucrative. Many chose to remain off the grid and are still producing much better products than the government grow-ops.’ 

‘You used to live there, didn’t you?’

‘Yeah, I lived in Kaslo which is a small jewel of a town on Kootenay Lake. The white pyramid of Mt. Loki and the Purcell mountains provide the backdrop and the town is best known for its annual summer JazzFest with a floating stage and also for their unique cultural centre: The Langham. It was resurrected by a bunch of enterprising hippies back in the 70ies. Today it’s a well-respected pillar of the community with a small theatre, studios, a gallery and a permanent exhibit of the Japanese interment history in the Kootenays.’

‘Did you meet anybody from the old days?’

‘I did indeed. Some I had kept in touch with, many I recognized and some that knew me. A few faces I drew a complete blank on even though they talked to me at length while I nodded and smiled. Of course, everybody showed their age but in many ways it was like a time warp. We warmed up some of the old stories, lamented the passage of time and confessed to our changing habits and aches and pains. ‘Sorry, don’t drink anymore; not meat please; can’t hear what you said and a plethora of ailments, fixes and complaints. We also lost a few buddies and commiserated about all the good times we had and all the hard times to come.’

‘Sounds like a class reunion,’ Camp said. ‘I try to avoid those these days but I used to attend when we were all still in our prime. Now I feel like we’re entering a distinctly ‘mature’ phase in which I ‘d rather keep to myself. Age becomes just like a foreign accent or a chronic pain. It’s there but cannot be changed or gotten rid of.’

‘On the subject of aging. Have you seen any of the recent Stones concerts on U-tube?’

I didn’t wait for an answer knowing that Camp does not follow the band. They’re all 80 now and Jagger is moving around the stage like a 30 year old and his voice is better than ever. They play two-hour long concerts to sold out stadiums and don’t let up.’

‘Yes, they are a bit of a phenomenon. They probably have a great health plan.’

‘They’re a blast from the past, a time warp and are an inspiration to me.’

When Vicky came by with our drinks I had to ask: ‘You know the Rolling Stones?’

‘The Rolling Bones?’ Yeah, love that ‘Wild Horses’ song. My mom likes them and I grew up on that music. Better than some of the new stuff. I hear they’re coming to Vancouver in July. You guys should go.’

‘At $ 650 for the cheapest nosebleed seats? I don’t think so.’