Joyful Wrecks: Reflections on living...

Saint John's Newfoundland: here we come

As those of you know, who are regular readers of my blog, I have a crazy Mother. Crazy in a sweet, generous-spirited, loving kind of way. She has invited me and my sister (in honour of my sister's 60th) to a week's holiday in NFLD. In addition to this wonderful gift, my daughter has decided to join us for five days as well. Imagine: four women who are not only related but who are wild about each other, ranging in age from 37 to 89.

We will meet in one of the oldest and the most far eastern cities on this North American continent. A city renowned for colourful picture book houses, music, laughter, and friendly people. My Mother (in fact we all) will fit right in. This will be a remarkable holiday and one we will all revel in as we allow ourselves to experience the magic of NFLD and the fun of being together.To tell you the truth, I can barely believe it is happening.

And, believing or not, this Friday, following the grand opening of Wellspring's beautiful new home, I will board a plane in Calgary and disembark about eight hours later in the rarefied "breathing room" (make sure you read the description of what this means)called NFLD. Funnily, I have been attracted to the full page ads about NFLD, in the Globe and Mail, for the past several years. And now I am going.

If all goes according to plan I will post a photo or two from our B&B in St. John's. There is certainly more to tell. And one of my favourite parts of this trip will be on my return where I have a planned three hour lay-over in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Watch for the next posting on how I plan to spend that time. You will then think my Mother's not crazy, it is her eldest daughter.

People have told me to bring more clothes since it is cold in NFLD, in the month of June. Since I already live in the "land god gave to Cain"- it snowed here yesterday on the 7th of June...need I say more. I'm not anticipating any environmental surprises in Saint John's.

with lots of love, Trudy

It Is Done

June 1st. The last infusion. One poke by an angel of a nurse called April, and an hour and a bit later, I was walking home. Fourteen months of showing up every three weeks.  What to make of it all? I looked around today at the crowded waiting room and I saw the new-comers and recognized the regulars. Every age and shape. What I mostly sense, however, is courage and hope and kindness. Yes, bitterness and disappointment and anger also appear as the whole catastrophe of life is represented in this space within the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. Yet, it is a lively, light-filled environment where people devoted to their work are doing the best they can to help us all along. I will be forever grateful for the help they have given me.

Talk about the joys of the unexpected, can they compare with the joys of the expected, of finding everything delightfully and completely what you knew it was going to be? Elizabeth Bibesco,  Balloons

When I read that quote today, I smiled, look at the name of the book it is from - Balloons. And today I too experienced the "joys of the expected."It was a glorious day.  Sweet dreams. Trudy

PS This digital bouquet of red balloons from Sheila was delightfully unexpected.