There are things I wish I didn't know.
Some of those things are just the quirks of life and growing up. I could probably do without knowing raw potatoes can be cut with a butter knife. And so can cheese for that matter. Note to self: is never a good idea to let your roommate move out before you do, especially if she's the one with the knife set.
I've also learned not to live in rundown apartments unless I want to spend the next six months feeling like I've been hit by a small train. If there is dark, sticky goo leaking out of the bathroom ceiling, vacate as soon as possible.
On the plus side, I have learned I can do my own laundry, put together IKEA bookshelves, and survive without my mother. I have learned how to pay phone bills, budget and clean up after myself. I still can't cook, but hey, baby steps right?
I guess the point is as I grew up I had to learn things, some good, some bad, some useful, and some absurd.
Squamish is going to learn some tough lessons over the next few years and it has had learned some already. There are a lot of changes happening, and they are happening quickly. I can relate - in the past 12 months I've graduated from college, moved six times, and worked at four different newspapers.
Squamish has to deal with the Sea to Sky University, the ongoing and never-ending highway construction, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, the Sea to Sky Adventure Centre, waterfront development and the $20-million question. There was Ashlu, the proposed and abandoned gondola, tragic highway accidents, and store and bank robberies.
I'm sure there are lessons in those events some would love to ignore.
But with all of the growing pains there have been some great changes and events. There is a movie theatre, and a new Order of Squamish. Local athletes have competed and succeeded at high levels, the Squamish Community Foundation was created, and the Humanity Village Project was started. Squamish is going to keep growing - and keep changing.
Squamish has to find its place in this world. We all do. Lessons have to be learned, mistakes have to be made. Squamish has to experience the same growing pains and accidents everything else does. Wonder what is going to happen next, but don't begrudge change. Take the good, the bad and the ugly because the truth is you don't know anything until you learn it.
Growing up is tough.
