To all of my readers native to the lovely province of Newfoundland, the title is exactly the reference you have in your head at the moment.

To the uninitiated, Blow Me Down is the name of a provincial park on the west coast of Newfoundland on a peninsula between Lark and York Harbours. Therefore, it’s also found in the names of various trails, land forms, and businesses. My favourite, and really the seed of this post, was stumbling across this retirement centre about 50 km from Corner Brook.

The title is also referring to my reaction on this, the 4th anniversary of PharmAspire. 

So why was I in Newfoundland? Pharmacy of course. Due to the tragedy that befell a dear colleague just before Christmas, the region he supported has been emotionally adrift. Like all of us, when answers are lacking we try out our brave faces in an attempt to carry on as normal. The onset of winter was the darkest I can remember, and three months later, the pall carries us into the spring. It’s familiar now, so reminiscing about fond memories tends to bring about smiles a bit more often, and those touched by Dave’s spirit share a strong, common bond. I’m here to finish some audit work he started, and that thought alone has made the last week rather surreal.

Being the city slicker I am, anything outdoorsy is met with reluctance. If I’m goaded enough, I will absolutely enjoy building snowmen, sliding, skating, 4-wheeling, swimming, canoeing, but never from my own ambition; someone who knows the ropes needs to bring over the plate of excitement for me to sample. The west coast of NF is still quite wintery at the end of March, and I have never seen so many snowmobiles taking residence in the hotel parking lot. Deer Lake is my hub, my command centre. Just off the Transcanada and about 5 minutes to an airport that would fit comfortably in the new Ikea being built in Dartmouth, I’ll do my traveling 90 minutes northeast and about 30+ minutes down the coast.

A few observations that struck me driving through this beautiful part of the country: 1) there isn’t much to look at between townships (or exits for that matter), 2) sidewalks are rare, as are pavement markings, so dodging pedestrians on snow-covered roads can be a bit unnerving, and 3) through the light flurries just before Corner Brook, I’ve found myself looking directly at the side of a mountain that has angled streaks reminiscent of a marbled steak. It was pretty neat to be driving through Humber valley with walls of rock and ice on either side.

After a week of meeting new people, coaching, discussing procedure, assessing dispensary layouts and staffing mix, I am reminded of the quality of pharmacy services you find anywhere. The styles and personalities may be a bit different, but they fit well in the communities they serve. I learned something new every day that I will carry with me to others. Dave brought these pharmacists, these technicians, these assistants together. They are leaning on each other for support and healing together despite their differences and relative distance.

This blog was created to help share experiences and positivity with others. Ever the optimist, Dave’s outlook on life was to accept every day as a gift; enjoy the people, never panic, give your best, and end the day celebrating any improvement, no matter how small.

I don’t know when or if I’ll be back, but for a week I felt welcome and accepted. Those folks carry a piece of Dave with every memory and recalled conversation. Each time I met someone new, inevitably they would smile and tell a story worth a few chuckles. In some small way, it felt like I was saying hello to him once again. Pair that with an anniversary of my first dabble into the writing forum, and it’s overwhelming.

Like the strong winds that constantly whip over the Murray Mountains, it’s enough to knock me off my feet.

Blow me down…

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.