Thursday, July 11, 2013

I headed to the beach as planned last night. I got very little reading done and heard very little of the singing though. I had just sat down when our friends Geoff and Brenda came up for a chat. When I said I thought I was well hidden they said they had seen the car in the parking lot and were looking for me. They headed off to walk the “mighty machine trail” before choir began and I went back to my reading. Not long after another friend arrived by bike and she stopped for a chat. She wanted me to join the singing but accepted that I really wanted to just listen.

There were a couple of quilters in attendance, also just listening. They headed out before very long, and stopped to chat with me. Suzanne’s nephew has terminal brain cancer and the family are all gathering to throw a birthday party for him tomorrow night. She says he will enjoy the gathering but won’t remember anything about it by the next day.

Shortly after that sad tale our friend Zoe sat down beside me. Her aunt, Sharon, has just had cancer treatments halted. Sharon spent some time in Powell River and we’ve met her on several occasions. She moved back to Ontario when she was diagnosed just a couple of months ago. Zoe said Sharon was having a wake for herself that evening. We chatted a bit and then another mutual friend stopped by. Marlaine is a really good friend of Sharon’s and when she heard the news she was very upset. We all chatted a bit more and then the choir session ended and we all went on our way.

Today the volunteer who works the morning shift told me her daughter lives in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec where they had that huge fire after the train derailment. Her daughter is okay but several of her former students were killed, as well as some of her fellow teachers. Nova and her husband were scheduled to go next week and she says the trip will now be more about what they can do for her daughter than holidaying.

So, as I said, I’m thankful for all the blessings in my life.