Thanks Giving

My friend Jeff did his Sunday Winnipeg radio show thanking family and friends for support and I was included and had music dedicated to me. Thanks, Jeff! It's my pleasure to listen to your two radio shows every week and share our love of wonderful music.

At Thanksgiving, it is a time to reflect on our blessings like family, friends, our homes, food and the daily comforts and luxuries we take for granted most of the time. Earthquakes and Tsunamis and floodings seem so far away, though Texas and Louisiana and Mississippi brought them closer to our doorstep. Thankfully when catastrophe hits, the world responds with its heartfelt support.

This weekend, Tony and I went to Tim's and Pat's for a family and friends Pot Luck dinner and it was yummy food and good people sharing laughs and stories. Thanks, everyone!

Last night, Tim and Pat came here for dinner and it was another feast. Thank you, Tony, you are an awesome chef!

September and October have had several fundraising events to support a cure for cancer and help kids who live with immense health challenges. Rappellers down the tall CIBC building, Terry Fox Run, UVic Run For The Cure and Cops For Cancer Tour de Rock. The latter had a group of bicycle riders travel on behalf of kids with cancer over Vancouver Island for thirteen rainy, windy and hilly days and come in Friday to tremendous support. We are thankful folks care about folks and give from their hearts. We only wish everyone could share equal good health.

Tim played marimba at one of the running events and the runners and walkers appreciated their music spurring them on. Thanks, Mufaro!

Tim gumboot danced at a car-free Cook Street Village event. Then, Tim, Pat and Karoon taught some small kids and a few adults to "shake their booty." It was adorable, kids are quick learners. The kids learned how to take a group bow at the end. Well done!

Mufaro played downtown's first annual street hockey car-free Saturday. Fun fund-raising event for Community Living. The streets had about ten hockey games going on at once in small "cages" all afternoon. Government Street was filled with big smiles and happy participants.

Mufaro played James Bay Luminara. Magical evening of paper lanterns, kids, families, costumed stilt people, marimba music and fire dancers. It was a joyful farewell to summer.

Fall in Victoria is settling in with some fog and rain, a good time for "nesting" with good books, internet friends, music and tv. When it's blue-sky sunshiny lovely, we go to beaches for walks. Cal was able to roll in dead seal again. We gave him his second bath, this time in the bath tub, and now he is smooth as silk. Why do animals roll in dead animals? What drives them to do this?

The Bell Blimp has been making its appearance around town again lately. Looking out our window in the pitch black and seeing a lit-up-like-Christmas hot air vehicle hovering up there is mighty impressive. It follows us around downtown during the day, too. Everybody is gazing skywards.

I had a lovely coffee meeting with friends the other day at Tim Horton's. Archie is 82, an artist and a really sweet man, and he and his wife, Betty, and my friend Pat and our friend Leone gathered for the first time as a fivesome and it was a warm fuzzy feeling afternoon. Thanks for your friendship these twenty four years, Pat!

I love my life, it makes me happy. My sister Margy once said to me "Allie, I have never seen anyone who gets more JOY out of every moment." I am thankful for everything I am blessed with. Thanksgiving just brings it home.

Peace, Allison