A friend from work sent me this email on my birthday:
I thought of you today as I exercised by walking for hours through the wonderful city of Florence. We have had a wonderful day and I hope that you have too.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Pat's email about her walk in Prince Edward County
Just a note to let you know I did celebrate your birthday this morning with an extra long walk with my dog at the campgrounds where we are staying in Prince Edward County. Because I wanted to extend my walk, I was particularly observant about pathways that I might not have otherwise found and I walked from one farm meadow to the next through mowed pathways. Each meadow was distinctly different and had a particular charm and I felt like I was walking through the closets of Narnia! This setting was indeed peaceful and a perfect background for my own thoughts of peace…how I can be more peaceful, encourage/support peaceful behaviour in others, and act to increase the level of peace in our society and culture. I had both general and specific thoughts about how these goals might be realized, and I thank you for using the occasion of your 60th birthday to promote these thoughts in your friends and family. Roy and I had a very peaceful holiday in Prince Edward County, something we both needed very much, but we were sorry that the timing conflicted with your birthday party and your church service.
Thanks for including us,
Pat
Thanks for including us,
Pat
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
What a weekend!
Last Friday, August 6, 2010, I turned 60. On Wednesday and Thursday, I had lunches with two of my best friends, Irene and Carol, and on Thursday night, I had dinner out with my family. After all that, on Friday all I had to do was get ready for the Burlington Runners beer run at my house on Sat. morning. I asked Tony to do the shopping, and I'd do the rest. Well, it also snuck up on us that the emissions test had to be done on the car, and a trip to the registry to get it official for another year. The day was moving along, and there was, as always, lots to do still around 5 or 6, when the bell rang. It was Brody being dropped off, and Kim came by to say Happy Birthday. To make a long story short, she stayed and visited and cut up bagels, and muffins, and whatever, and tidied up. What had been a complete chore turned into an easy peasy evening, and the whole thing was ready to go. It was a great spontaneous birthday gift. I'm lucky to have such good friends.
Saturday morning, Khursh Ahmed from Physicians for Global Survival met me at the parking lot before the Burlington Runners weekly run. I was duly celebrated during announcements, and directions were given to my house. Khursh stayed to give out watermelon to the runners when they came in, a very special treat. We had a lot of people here for the beer run, and it was a great party. Burlington Runners are a terrific group, we don't take ourselves too seriously, and we support each other. Then I went for a run! I thought about all the people who are putting their lives on the line voluntarily, and decided to run for them. When I was younger, I was so critical of the Viet Nam war that I didn't respect the soldiers enough, when I look back.
Saturday night we had a party at Emma's Back Porch. Mark Collis was the best DJ in the world, playing all my favourites, and some I didn't even ask for. I thought there'd be dancing, and there was -- except it was only me! There are some songs that can't be sat through. I had family, running friends, church friends, neighbhour friends, and friend friends. I was so grateful that there were people to help me celebrate, because, as I said, I can't celebrate without others being there to do it with me. It's all about community.
Then Sunday morning I was doing the sermon at my church, First Unitarian Church of Hamilton. I had some trouble getting the sermon written, and I realized once I started it was because I couldn't ignore the elephant in the room. I had to talk about what happened in Hiroshima to the people present when the bomb dropped. Anyway, I was able to say that we must remember, and say Never Again. Then I talked about how challenging it is to move past our egocentric view of life and see us as all one human family that sinks or swims together.
Then we had a walk/run, and a reception. Gail Rappolt gave me such a wonderful gift in her very well organized service leading, and organizing the walk/run and the lunch afterwards.
Then I came home and fell asleep for two hours.
I've been decompressing since. I think this work about creating community, or building more within the communities that I'm already a part of, is so interesting, challenging, and both satisfying and abstract simultaneously. There is no product, no goal. It requires faith. What do you think?
If you've been involved, I'd love to see your response.
Saturday morning, Khursh Ahmed from Physicians for Global Survival met me at the parking lot before the Burlington Runners weekly run. I was duly celebrated during announcements, and directions were given to my house. Khursh stayed to give out watermelon to the runners when they came in, a very special treat. We had a lot of people here for the beer run, and it was a great party. Burlington Runners are a terrific group, we don't take ourselves too seriously, and we support each other. Then I went for a run! I thought about all the people who are putting their lives on the line voluntarily, and decided to run for them. When I was younger, I was so critical of the Viet Nam war that I didn't respect the soldiers enough, when I look back.
Saturday night we had a party at Emma's Back Porch. Mark Collis was the best DJ in the world, playing all my favourites, and some I didn't even ask for. I thought there'd be dancing, and there was -- except it was only me! There are some songs that can't be sat through. I had family, running friends, church friends, neighbhour friends, and friend friends. I was so grateful that there were people to help me celebrate, because, as I said, I can't celebrate without others being there to do it with me. It's all about community.
Then Sunday morning I was doing the sermon at my church, First Unitarian Church of Hamilton. I had some trouble getting the sermon written, and I realized once I started it was because I couldn't ignore the elephant in the room. I had to talk about what happened in Hiroshima to the people present when the bomb dropped. Anyway, I was able to say that we must remember, and say Never Again. Then I talked about how challenging it is to move past our egocentric view of life and see us as all one human family that sinks or swims together.
Then we had a walk/run, and a reception. Gail Rappolt gave me such a wonderful gift in her very well organized service leading, and organizing the walk/run and the lunch afterwards.
Then I came home and fell asleep for two hours.
I've been decompressing since. I think this work about creating community, or building more within the communities that I'm already a part of, is so interesting, challenging, and both satisfying and abstract simultaneously. There is no product, no goal. It requires faith. What do you think?
If you've been involved, I'd love to see your response.
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