Time does not creep along these days and take off is approaching. In the meantime, some special dates with friends for lunch, quiet coffee and just plain good conversation about the paths we choose as life moves along, with or without us. Sometimes we set things in motion and really have no idea the ripples that will move out from us. It has been a very heart warming time these past few weeks with these visits and a very full Thanksgiving at our home with all of our family and close friend Pearl, both the Newshams and the Ralstons - 24 in total (there could have been more if they lived closer) at our home for turkey and all the trimmings. I was on the receiving end of many good wishes to send me off, culminating with a speech from Don - so much appreciated, and kind words from brother John who also played some familiar tunes on his bagpipes that of course had us in tears - tunes my grandparents used to sing, one translated loosely to : "I am going away but I'll come back to see you". A moving finale to a day of great thanksgiving for all we (I) have in our lives - namely family and friends and a country of plenty. Our vegetables all came from our garden so a true harvest celebration! I've included a photo of some of our family - Kayla, Lee and Lily missing as granddaughter, son and daughter in law of the immediate family not around when we wandered into our park and saw the fantastic Fall colours.OK, the move: picture Don unhooking cables and electrical connections from PVR, TV, computer, Bluray, printer, tuner - all wound around each other and Pam handing labels so that he can try to put it all together in Toronto. Good luck Don!! Last minute realization that we didn't save the TV box for the 42" flat screen. Up at the crack of dawn on moving day to run to find a suitable moving box and more packing tape that ran out the night before at midnight. All was located by the time the movers arrived at 9 am.
The bulk of the goods into a storage unit with three strong men from United Movers then Don and I loading living room furniture into a Uhaul to take to Calgary to store in the homes of two friends ready to babysit the good stuff. We are not what we used to be as we hauled and hoisted two heavy love seats into the truck! What happened to youth and muscle? But what would we do without these friends who just came forward to offer taking on our orphaned goods as they never would have fit in the storage unit (the goods, not the friends). That would have been a sight - our living room furniture lined up on highway 2 looking for a home.
Our drive to Calgary was a perfect autumn day, all gold fields, harvesters finishing the last touches before winter and a sunset that sent a red glow over the golden fields and into the cloudless Alberta sky. It was all quite mystical and again brought thanks to my lips for all the bounty in my life as Don and I talked of my preparations and how to stay connected to home when I'm so far away. I am grateful for all of his ideas.
Next post will be from Bali, Indonesia as I embark on language training - I've got a good start already - cultural orientation and of course, motorcycle upgrading to left side driving and who knows what else. Stay tuned!
