Election Day 2015 - Written on Hover Board Day!

Fun at the polling station with L'arche Saint John!

(Written on October 21, 2015, as pictured on Back To The Future 2, minus the flying cars and Hover Boards)

On Monday, Election Day, I voted for Liberal.  In fact, unlike last time I voted at the Carlton Community Centre gym, where Stephane and I were playing Special Olympics Basketball some years ago.  The last time an election had happened our voting place was the Assumption Centre down the road from our house. 

That night I was watching coverage of the Election Day and Liberal was schooling Conservative and NDP by a long shot.  In the morning the radio said Liberal won by a lot and that lots of people were tired of 10 years of Stephen Harper and voted Liberal. 

I was personally tired of Harper myself and thought it was time for a change.  Up to that time TV and radio were playing attack ads against Justin Trudeau, which said things like “Justin Trudeau.  He’s in way over his head,” and “Justin Trudeau.  He’s just not ready.”  There was also an attack ad starring Justin Trudeau against Stephen Harper.  Words popped up on stop signs and street and store posts that read “STOP HARPER.”  The attack ads, though they were rude against a certain candidate, were funny at times. 

A week ago from Monday, I saw Mom and Dad go to a nearby daycare for advance polls, which was down the road from the Irishtown Rec Centre at which our Retriever Simon got his training done and I saw it.  I saw Mom and Dad show their ID, get their pamphlet and ballot, and each go behind the voting desk and come out after placing their vote. 

A week later came my turn!  

My L’Arche Friends

L'Arche Saint John celebrating at the 10th Anniversary Dinner. 

Gray Gillies, an Assistant from L’Arche Saint John, has helped me with healthy choices, been with me to Toronto for the last Autism Symposium, has been with me for a few vacations, and was with me for most celebrations.  She and I cook together sometimes and she took part in the concert at Imperial Theatre and she was with us for 50 Fest.  She was with us for the Growth ad Goals Meeting on Tuesday, May 26, 2015.  She and I were together on my first Exchange to Antigonish and I shopped at Superstore with listening stations, visited other houses, and attended mass at St. Ninian’s Cathedral, on the campus of St. F. X.  A future wish is, to honor Gram, since most of my family, except for me, has been to a Blue Jays home game, is that she and I go to Toronto to catch a home game with my Blue Jays water bottle and a poster that reads L’Arche Saint John loves the Blue Jays so if a Sports Net camera shows us L’Arche friends and family can see us, then we’d get worldwide publicity.  And maybe we can stay in Royal York or Gamble House again.  And maybe I could get my water bottle autographed by Jays past and present and a Blue Jays book about their present and past players and their past successes. 

Gray at a listening station

Jocelyn Worster, the Community Leader, also has helped me with healthy choices, has been with me for Atlanta 2012 and 50 Fest and a few Vacations, and has been to things like Epiphany Concerts, the recent Imperial Theatre concert, the recent 10th Anniversary Dinner at KV Church, AGMs, and other L’Arche Atlantic Region celebrations, like 25th and 30th Anniversaries.  She was at our Growth and Goals Meeting on May 26th.

Victoria Woods, who prefers to be called Vic, was with us for McKim-Mas, and she and I have been good shopping friends together.  She was with us for the 10th Anniversary Supper at KV Church and in fall took part in our number in the concert at Imperial Theatre, which was Hakuna Matata from The Lion King.  She and I cook together sometimes.  She joined us for the Growth and Goals Meeting on May 26th.

Maren (I don’t know how to spell her last name) is one of many of our Assistants from Germany, and she and I also have shopped together and she and I are usually the duo who goes to the Loch Lomond Villa on most Fridays if it is Gray’s Day or Weekend Away or Vacation.  She was with us for the recent 10th Anniversary Supper at KV Church.  She and I cook sometimes.  Maren takes some of us to Zumba on some Wednesdays. 

Brandon Lanteigne and I have shopped together, been to a Sea Dogs game with Stephane, have been to O’Leary’s together, have been to special things like Christmas parties and art days, to church together, and shared a room at the Chocolate Lake Hotel in Halifax for 50 Fest.  He was with us for the recent 10th Anniversary Supper.  He took part in singing Hakuna Matata from The Lion King for the concert at Imperial Theatre and he was at The Sound of Music at Imperial Theatre and Anne of Green Gables at St. Malachy’s Memorial High School with us.  He takes some of us to Zumba on Mondays, though he sits it out and works on his computer. 

Debbie Turnbull and I have been on most Vacations together, summer camps at Hampton Bible Camp, 50 Fest, the concert at Imperial Theatre, Good Shepherd Church, Epiphany Concerts, Faith and Sharing Retreats, the recent 10th Anniversary Supper at KV Church, The Sound of Music at Imperial Theatre, and Anne of Green Gables at St. Mac’s High School.  Years back she joined Gray and me for Fiddler on the Roof at Harbour View High School.  She is in the In Key Choir at Key Industries with me and joins me for Zumba classes on Mondays and some Wednesdays. 

Kristina Cooper, though she cannot speak, has ways to communicate.  When we ask her questions, when she raises her eyebrows, that means yes or that she is happy or excited about something coming up or she is looking forward to.  She has movies in her room that I like.  She has been with me for some vacations, most of the ones where Janet Christy was with us, and she was at 50 Fest and all AGM’s. 

Krista Simmons has almost the same taste in movies and music I do.  We both like the movies Frozen, High School Musical, Camp Rock, Princess Protection Program, and any movie, as long as there is no nudity or cuss words.  She likes country and Disney music, though she likes some of the music they play at Zumba classes we dance to.  She goes to Camp Rotary in summer. 

Stephane Bastarache, originally from Bouctouche, can play guitar and sing hymns, but he cannot play chords, so he sings and goes strum strum strum... on open notes with no fingers.   He prays for priests, the Saint John area bishop, Raise up an Army, his KI and prayer meeting friends, and any problems in the news or with his family and friends.  He plays Wii Bowling on certain days.  He also goes to Hampton Bible Camp with me in summer and winter.  He and I have been to hockey and basketball games together.  We go to and watch movies together.  He is also a member of Key Industries’ In Key Choir. 

Justine (I forgot her last name), from Kenya, taught us some Swahili, like Karibu means “Welcome”.  She and I traveled on Community Exchange to Antigonish close to Halloween not last October, but the October before, and we went to a Halloween Dance, shopped at Wal-mart where I bought Home Alone 2, visited other houses, and went to a couple beaches together.  Last summer she joined us for Community Vacation, also in Antoginish, and we got a tour of St. F. X., where Jennifer, Brian, Dad, and Mom, all graduated from University and I had seen their varsity basketball team play at Halifax Metro Centre various times, 3 times with my Mom, once with Janet Christy, and once with Blake Cameron before I moved out of their house and later lost Molly and later got Ella and later moved into L’Arche Saint John.  All of a sudden, out of nowhere, she moved back to Kenya and I wish she’d come back. 

Janet Christy, from Gujarat, India, has been with us for Community Vacations, stepped in as House Leader after Marilyn Moore retired, helped me make healthy choices, and taught us her language, which is in fact called Gujarati.  For example, Mito ane Marie, means “salt and pepper”.  Supratri means in fact “good night.”  Kem Chho and Mazama means “Hello” and “How are you doing?”  Oujo (spelt correctly, Janet?) means “goodbye”.  When she was with us for vacation, the songs she chose for the mix CD, dubbed “Babe Mix”, were both funny and catchy. 

Tiago Ortega, (sorry High School Musical and Dirty Dancing fans, no relation to Kenny the choreographer) from Toronto, was with us for 2 short times:  Once for summer, and once for 2 Christmases seasons ago.  He joined us for Vacation in Antigonish 2 summers ago where we visited other houses and went to beaches where I saw a couple of Border Collies playing Frisbee with their handler, was at Mama George’s Restaurant with us on Canada Day which was the first time I tried clams, and took me shopping before McKim-Mas by bus so I could get a Sony Dream Machine clock radio with 7 time zones and Auto DST option and to buy a DVD.  Some of his favorite movies, also some of mine, included Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Tommy Boy. 

Sophia (I forget her last name), from Germany, was with us for Sea Dogs games, Vacation, McKim-Mas, Epiphany Concerts, movie nights, and snow days. 

Silvana Springer (sorry comedy fans, no relation to Jerry, right?) is also from Germany.  The adventures together for us included my first curling match, last summer’s vacation, Epiphany concerts, and McKim-Mas. 

Anna Bingel, also from Germany, took me and Krista a few times to my first Zumba classes, joined us for the Vacation in Cape Breton, was with us for McKim-Mas and Epiphany Concert, and loved Bob Marley and Eva Cassidy.  She loved to sing Someone like You by Adele, though sometimes she could not sing the high C# originally sung in the chorus. 

Andreanne Grondin, from Quebec, had a friend/relative who took us to the Hilton room he was staying at and I got to see Alpine Country Star in progress on the boardwalk from the 10th floor room and watch the LG flat screen.  She also joined us for Community Vacation in Cape Breton.  

Carry The Dream: Atlanta 2012

John O’Donnell and I were to go to Mobile, AL., for a weekend, and then to Atlanta for a L’Arche International Assembly.  The day John O’Donnell and I met for the big trip I was met with a surprise:  He and I were to take a night at a hotel near the Airport.  And it was so.  We took a room at the Halifax Airport Comfort Inn.  I swam in the hotel’s indoor pool and went to bed that night. 

The day we woke up we took a shuttle to the Halifax Stanfield International Airport from where we were to take not 1, not 2, but THREE different planes (thank God all jets) to Toronto, to Atlanta, and then to Mobile.  We went through security without so much as a chirp.  We boarded plane #1 of 3.  In no time we took off and in no time we landed at Pearson International Airport.  Here we were to fill out a US Customs & Border Protection declaration that declared purpose of trip, age, address, whether or not we were carrying fruits, vegetables, or forbidden things, and reason for trip, and then go through Customs before going through security.  We went through US Customs successfully, and then checked our bags again, and then proceeded to our gate only to discover that plane #2 was experiencing mechanical difficulties, and so we were diverted from the original designated gate to another one.  Due to the delay we missed the connecting Delta plane to Mobile.  We booked another one, boarded that one, and landed in Mobile at 10:10 pm Central.   There were people there to pick us up. 

Day 1 in the U.S. we took a drive to the Mardi Gras Museum in Mobile and saw exhibits that told us Mobile was the birthplace of Mardi Gras parades.  Then we took a drive to a house with a pool; a beach nearby; and a Bel Air-style house.  We had a BBQ and a swim. 

The next day we took a drive as a 3-rental-car convoy to Atlanta and on the way we stopped at the Cracker Barrel Restaurant.  A friend took my camera and took a picture of me holding a case of glass bottles of Coca-Cola, the reason being I read in my Atlanta Book that Coca-Cola was invented in Atlanta.  Soon we got to the Agnes Scott College, set up, and I went with my driver to the Airport so as he could return the rental car, and the 2 of us took MARTA (the city’s transit train) back to the College.  We had our opening ceremonies and our theme song was called “Carry The Dream”, written by John Coleman, inspired by Martin Luther King, Junior’s famous “I Have A Dream” speech.  All the songs during this week were beautiful.  I met lots of friends from all across the world.   

The next day we had a couple assemblies and a Catholic mass in both English and French.  Other days we had church services of all kinds.  We also went to church services at a Presbyterian Church and an Episcopal Church.  The assemblies we went to were spoken in English, French, and Spanish.  We had radios with headphones that translated to English French and Spanish, like say words and prayers were spoken in French or Spanish, we could listen to it in English nonetheless.  That was helpful.  Every night from that night on we had pub nights, and we had 7 pub nights in a row.   John and I went to Decatur CD store and I purchased the DVDs Like Mike, Space Jam, and Beethoven/Beethoven’s 2nd Double Feature, along with the CDs Black Eyed Peas The E.N.D. and The Black Eyed Peas The Beginning, all for great prices.

On our final full day in Atlanta we went on a bus tour on a school bus to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, with education about how before “I Have A Dream” people were separated from each other because of their races, cultures, colors, religions, faiths, and abilities, which I already knew about after being in STAR (Students Against Racism), and learning about the World Wars, at Catholic Church to which Dr. King went; got a tour of a museum; and listened to a gospel choir from Mobile singing beautiful songs like O Happy Day, We Shall Overcome, and other gospel favorites.  They then played a video of Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have A Dream” speech.  The next day the same gospel choir sang at our assembly at the College. 

After the final night in Atlanta we said goodbye to our new friends; took the bus to the MARTA Station; took a MARTA Train to the Atlanta Airport; tried to find the ticketing agent; checked our bags; boarded plane #1 of 2 planes, which took off in no time and took us to Pearson Airport.  We went through Canadian Customs and connected planes to plane #2 to Halifax Airport.  We stayed in L’Arche Halifax the day we landed.  At Toronto Airport I had purchased the CD Mumford & Sons Sigh No More.  ​

The next day we drove to Saint John, and that was the end of the journey, and therefore,  the end of the story. 

My 8 Years in L'Arche

Chapter 1: Year 1

Pat & Gray goofing around during the holidays - here they take inspiration from the movie The Christmas Story after a night of Chinese food and a screening of the flick. 

    I moved into L’Arche Saint John, A.K.A. McKim House, shortly after Molly’s passing, Ella’s arrival, my visits to Saint John to visit the house and stay in the house, and after my first Toronto Autism Symposium where I had met Temple Grandin, stayed in Royal York, and went to multiple HMV stores and malls.  Besides me, there were 3 very friendly Core Members: Krista Simmons, Debbie Turnbull, and John Pike, friendly and humorous Assistants Gray Gillies, Teresa Bond (no 007 ammunition, cars, or relation, sorry), and Marilyn Moore, and a Community Leader Dan Kirkegaard, also a United Church minister.  Since moving in, I attended mass at Holy Trinity Church, went to the gatherings at Stone Church, watched classic Christmas movies in the living room, played the organ that was by the door, had Friendship Circles at McKim House, had Community Prayer at the house, went to Christmas parties where I danced and played the piano and guitar if no piano, went to my first Sea Dogs home game, browsing at Superstores using their 4 listening stations each location, browsing and buying at McAllister Place HMV and Brunswick Square CD Plus, celebrated my first McKim-Mas, performed in my first of many New Dawn Players mimes based on bible stories and fairy tales, including different and updated versions of The Nativity Story, The Prodigal Son, The Good Samaritan, The Princess who Never Laughed, and The Golden Pears, celebrated my first Birthday in L’Arche, gone to my first Super Dogs show since I’d had Molly and Ella with Mom, Dad, Jen, Brian, and my nephews Brennan and Connor, went to concerts and musicals at local theatres and high schools, went to my first Prayer Partners’ Retreat, said goodbye to Teresa, welcomed a German Assistant named Marc, went to my first L’Arche vacation in our new 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan with DVD player...in Montreal, said goodbye to Marc, went to my first Faith and Sharing Retreat, welcomed Paul Martin (not Canada’s ex-Prime Minister) as an Assistant, bought my first Babe DVD, had my first Halloween in Saint John dressing as Harry Potter, attended a Cursillo Men’s Weekend at St. Joachim’s Church, attended my first Santa Claus Parade, and made an appearance on The Empty Stocking Fund and Channel 10’s Daytime.  I also celebrated my first Anniversary! 

    Chapter 2: Year 2

   This began with my first Anniversary!  Then we decorated the Christmas Tree again!  Something different:  John Pike had to leave the house for multiple hospitals and later various nursing homes.  Then again came McKim-Mas!  Then came Christmas, and I was met with a surprise:  Mom got me 2 books:  Nop’s Trials and Nop’s Hope, both books about Border Collies, like Ella, Molly, Dillon, and another one I will mention later in this story, were, and these stories are like reading a Bond film or a Mission: Impossible film, full of action, peril, and touching stories.  Before I had moved into this house I had been reading nonstop Jennifer’s green copy of Nop’s Trials at home, in Upper Cape, in the car, during trips, and with Molly with me, and even after I lost her at age 6.  See the whole story in a separate story which I may send to this Blog.  Now I had BOTH books!  I already had a copy of the sequel, but Blake and Kansas Cameron’s Shepherd/Husky Mix Oskar had chewed it, so there were dog tooth marks on the book.  Now I had mint condish copies of each book!  At the time I am writing this story, they look as rickety as the screaming restricted book from the Restricted Section in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone when Harry sneaks to the restricted section to find info on Nicholas Flamel and almost gets caught by Filch and Snape.  Then came my second Epiphany mime concert.  My birthday came up again, and then a young Acadian man, named Stephane Bastarache, who was a faithful Catholic and went to the local French Catholic church, moved in and he had a guitar.  Then I attended a course at the City Market which lasted until May.  One weekend during that Gray and I went to Antigonish for a Community Exchange and we had fun, staying at Yeshua House, visited other houses, shopped at Superstore’s DVD/CD section, and attended mass at St. Ninian’s Cathedral.  This spring we went to Cape Breton for a Regional Gathering at St. Anne’s Gaelic College.  Later we went back to Cape Breton to celebrate L’Arche Cape Breton’s 25th Anniversary.  This involved concerts and a dance.  Then I went home...to celebrate Erin’s wedding, where a friend of Erin’s and I were impersonating Jake and Elwood Blues from The Blues Brothers, all guys were wearing rented tuxes and there was catering and a rented electric piano and sound system.  Then we went on my second L’Arche Saint John Vacation, this time on P.E.I., going to a musical, shopping at Confederation Court Mall, went to Confederation Festival with covers of the top 40 music from that year, and explored P.E.I.  After this we said goodbye to Paul Martin, said goodbye to Dan Kirkegaard as our Community Leader, said welcome to Rosaire Blais, said welcome to a Chinese Assistant named Trevor...and later said goodbye to Rosaire and welcomed Jocelyn Worster as our Community Leader.  I started working with Krista at a sheltered workplace which used to be a school on the East Side called United Catena Training Centre.  John Pike, passed away at his nursing home and we attended his funeral service at Forest Hills Baptist Church with a touching rendition of Beautiful.  I joined the Assumption Church’s Senior Choir as a tenor.  Rosaire had me stay at his place in Wolfville for a weekend.  During this time we went to 2 movies, a hockey game, a basketball game, meals out, and Rosaire told me McKim House was being donated a piano!    Our family, including Granddad and Bill, all took a trip to Halifax, staying at Cambridge Suites, shopping at HMV Spring Garden Road, shopping at Park Lane Mall, watching Christmas with the Kranks at Stephanie and Glen’s apartment, attending the 1st Sunday of Advent Mass at St. Mary’s Basilica, and having breakfast at the Lord Nelson Hotel’s restaurant. 

    Chapter 3:  Year 3

    My 2 Year Anniversary came up.

McKim-Mas came up too.    This Christmas Mom gave me a stuffed Border Collie which I named Shadow, and when I first brought it down the stairs that Christmas, Lisa, our Coton de Tulear, thought Shadow was a real dog, and got frightened and started barking.  On New Year’s Eve we watched the DVD of the movie Mamma Mia!, based on the musical.  And I loved it so much I bought a Mamma Mia DVD of my own.  Then the Epiphany Concert came up with the mime.  Then my Birthday came up.  The March that followed Mom and I went to Halifax for the Atlantic University Basketball tournament, again staying at Cambridge Suites, shopping at HMV, and visiting Stephanie and Glen.  Then I saw the movie Marley & Me, and I was touched by the fact that it was story about a family’s dog who gets into trouble but loves the family nonetheless and dies in the end, so I bought the movie myself.  Then our basement underwent a facelift with a bathroom on my floor, new flooring...and our new piano, a Heintzman upright donated by the Sisters of Charity.  Then Jocelyn, Trevor, and I, all went to Halifax...to run/walk in the Bluenose Marathon in which most of L’Arche Atlantic was involved.  We took the 5k.  Then we met Stephanie and Glen at their apartment, went out for supper, shopped at HMV, and attended a Sunday mass at St. Mary’s Basilica.  This summer we started watching Family Channel a lot.  On Vacation we went to Halifax for half a week...and then to Wolfville for half a week.  In Halifax we went to Mic Mac Mall, went on the Harbour Hopper, went on the Halifax-Dartmouth Ferry, went out for supper, and went to Toy Story 3.  In Wolfville we visited Rosaire, went to Applewicks, and visited L’Arche houses.  Stay-Cation came up and we went to Baptist Book Room, went to Moncton where we went mini-golfing, to St. Hubert, Costco and lots of fun things, and came home with one of Baptist Book Room’s listening stations for me.  Shortly after this, I got a saddening e-mail to call Jennifer.  I called her...and she told me that Dillon, who for some time had been getting elderly and developing arthritis, had passed away at age 14.  The summer after Grade 8 when Dillon and I first met he was a playful puppy who loved being serenaded by my guitar playing that summer.  So when we went to Faith and Sharing, I took a picture I had taken during high school of Dillon with me.  Later Jennifer got another playful Border Collie puppy...from Saint John, named Danny.  I met and he was sweet and playful.  We welcomed an Indian Assistant named Janet Christy...and later our second German Assistant, named Christian.  The Winter Olympics were coming up in Vancouver and now the torch relay was happening and we watched the flame go up our street. 

    Chapter 4: Year 4

    My Anniversary came up, as did McKim-Mas.  This Christmas I got the book Imminent Dogs, Dangerous Men... and a DVD of a movie I had seen at Zellers, called Mist: The Tale of a Sheepdog Puppy.  The book and the movie were touching.  The movie was like Homeward Bound, as each animal had a voice but their mouths don’t move like humans’ mouths do, and no CGI effects, and it was all a real and touching story.  Later Janet left...and later Gray left, and an Assistant from The Philippines named Nova moved in.  This St. Patrick’s week we did something different:  we went to O’Leary’s, a local Irish pub, for breakfast with music that supported our house.  Here traditional Irish folk songs came up.  This continued every St. Patrick’s week after this year.  Some of us got a tour of the new Marco Polo Cruise Terminal and I loved it.  Janet came back to stay with us for some time.  Jocelyn, Christian, and I went to Halifax to walk the 5K Bluenose Marathon and met Stephanie and Glen and did the usual Halifax things.  This summer we went to Halifax...again.  This time we stayed in L’Arche Halifax.  We shopped and explored and ate out.  Then we went to Cape Breton and stayed in one of their houses.  This house had a piano and I played it, and we watched my Mighty Ducks movies and the house’s copy of Sister Act and we loved the Motown hits that come up in that movie.  We also visited the other houses and their day programs.  Later we welcomed a 5th Core Member: a young blind speechless but communicating and loving lady named Kristina Cooper, from a nursing home called Mill Cove, and so the sitting room became her bedroom.  She had her ways of communicating:  when we asked her a question, when her eyebrows went up, that meant “yes.”  A humorous, pun-loving, music loving Assistant named Britney Shaw came with us.  In October a local theatre company, a local symphony orchestra, and 2 high school choirs, all joined forces to bring together a musical about the world’s fastest ship (sorry Pirates of the Caribbean fans, not The Black Pearl) The Marco Polo, called Marco Polo: The Musical.  In November Mom and I flew to Toronto for the Autism Symposium for our 2nd time, meeting Temple Grandin, and this time getting a Home Alone 2 style luxury suite at the Royal York with a view of the CN Tower, and at night the Tower looked like a giant Christmas tree with multi-colored twinkle lights.  Here we went to 2 HMVs and met a couple of friends of ours.  Shortly after I got back I got my bottom wisdom teeth pulled out, which was nerve-racking. 

    Chapter 5: Year 5

    This Anniversary marked my 4th year here.  This was my last full year at United Catena.  McKim-Mas, of course, came up, as did Christmas.  The Epiphany concert with the mime came up too.  On July 4th of this year Krista and I started work at Key Industries.  I started folding shirts for events and organizations and joined their choir, which performs at nursing homes once a month and attends the Summer Sounds concert at the nearby United Church.  I also started volunteering at the local SPCA, walking the dogs there and at a local nursing home playing the piano for the residents there.  Our family took me to Upper Cape, where now we had a cottage washed to our beach by a winter storm surge, which was now ours, where our trailer used to be.  We stayed there then too.  Marilyn retired as House Leader and moved to Yarmouth and Janet took over the role of House Leader.  I was later chosen to go to Mobile Alabama with ex-Regional Coordinator John O’Donnell, Jocelyn, and board president Don Dickson for a weekend and to Atlanta for an International Assembly at a local college. 

    Chapter 6: Year 6

    My Anniversary marked a big year: my 5th year in L’Arche.  Our 3rd German Assistant, named Anna Bingel, who spoke German, moved in and I started doing Zumba every Wednesday with Anna and Krista.  Another female Assistant then moved in, named Andreanne from Quebec, who spoke French.    This Christmas I got a Toshiba 19” flat screen LED TV to replace my Citizen 19” TV/VCR and Jen got a huge Samsung LCD TV too.  The Boxing Day after I saw my first Mission Impossible movie and it was gripping and I jumped.  The Epiphany concert and mime, of course, came up.  This spring, as planned, Mom and I went to Halifax, met Stephanie for supper, and met John O’Donnell...and he and I went to the Quality Inn Halifax Airport hotel, so my first hotel with a flat screen and a pool since I got my own flat screen, and since we had a pool, I used it.  The next morning, bright and early, we checked out of the hotel and the airport shuttle picked us up and took us to Stanfield Airport.  We bought our ticket, went through security, and awaited our first of 3 planes.  The first took us to Toronto.  Then we went through customs and took the 2nd plane to Atlanta Airport...and took the 3rd plane to Mobile Alabama.  We went to a house with a pool and stayed 2 nights there.  We went to shops and a nearby house with a pool and a beach nearby.  Then our whole group, a 3 Chevy Impala convoy, all took off for Atlanta, stopping at the Cracker Barrel for lunch.  Then we proceeded to Atlanta for the International Assembly.  We went to speeches, services and mass at local churches, exploring the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Site where I heard about the racist stuff that was going on before King’s famous speech which I already knew from watching Forrest Gump, My Dog Skip, and The Help, night-after-night pub crawls, shopping at local stores, and I got to share my gift of music and humor with lots of L’Arche people from across the globe.  There were also catchy songs sung for this event in all kinds of languages.  Since this event I played the songs on piano and guitar from then.  This summer we went on vacation to Cape Breton and I played the guitar at a Cape Breton fudge shop with a stage and listening posts and was the first to play Beatles songs there and bought a CD from a local rap artist. 

    Chapter 7: Year 7

    The Anniversary marked my 6th year.  This Christmas was spent in Halifax with Stephanie and Glen in their house with a musical at Neptune Theatre based on the movie Elf. 

   Then came my birthday.  The St. Patrick’s Breakfast came too.  This summer we went to Antigonish for summer vacation. 

The fall that came after summer I went on an exchange to Antigonish with an Assistant from Kenya named Justine, and they had a Halloween dance. 

 Chapter 8: Year 8 

    This Anniversary marked my 7th year.  McKim-Mas came, as did Christmas. 

This Christmas I got a Sony CD player and a BlackBerry cell phone and since then I was texting a lot. 

Of course my Birthday came up, my 33rd Birthday.  And on this day it was announced that we had won the Kia Canada Drive Change contest and we were to get a 2014 Kia Sedona for one year...and then a 2015 Kia Sedona for another year! 

Then again we had the St. Patrick’s Breakfast at O’Leary’s. 

Easter came and before then our new van arrived:  A titanium gray Kia Sedona, with automatic almost everything. 

This summer my group had a stay-cation in which, my idea, we went to Fundy Park to walk a trail and to other local New Brunswick attractions, including St. Andrew’s for whale watching and to see Eleanor Roosevelt’s place for Tea with Eleanor. 

Then I got a call from Stephanie, Glen, and Mom in the form of a conference call and they said the next Christmas would be spent in New York City where we would go to a musical, go to a play, have meals out, enjoy the sights from Christmas movies, and stay the nights at the Smyth Tribeca with our own hotel rooms! 

Then fall came and with that 50 Fest!  We went to Citadel High in Halifax for a speech and concerts where we met lots of people from different communities, a local church service and breakfast at an Anglican Church, and we stayed at the Best Western Chocolate Lake hotel, my idea, so we used the pool there, watched the flat screens, and enjoyed the continental breakfast. 

2 days after we went back Gray and I traveled together to Toronto for the Autism Symposium, meeting Temple Grandin, shopping at local shops, and staying at L’Arche Toronto!  I give that trip an A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++! 

    Then the weekend came and L’Arche Saint John, also part of 50 Fest, put on a concert with show tunes, and Gray and I performed I’d Do Anything from Oliver, dedicating to my new nephew, Erin and Christopher’s new son Oliver.  Then the rest of the house went onstage and did Hakuna Matata from Disney’s The Lion King, and did the final chorus with the whole ensemble joining in. 

   Then Gray and I did a presentation for the Assistants and House Leader about what we heard and learned at the Symposium. 

    Chapter 9: Year 9...so far

    My 8th Anniversary was touching.  When they passed the candle around at prayer the peoples’ comments about me were beautiful. 

   Then I went home for a weekend.  Shortly after I went back to Saint John I came home again to see Bill.  This weekend is the time I have finished this story.  

L’Arche’s 50th Anniversary

Fifty years ago, Jean Vanier, son of famous politician Georges Vanier, whom one of the Metro stops in Montreal where the Bell Centre where the Montreal Canadians play hockey, is named after, was touched by 2 things: the biblical story of Noah’s Ark and Martin Luther King Jr’s famous “I have a dream” speech. 

Arriving at the concert in Saint John. 

This inspired Vanier to open his first L’Arche home by welcoming two disabled people to live with and have meals with him.  Back in the day, this historical figure had a show called Jean Vanier in Conversation, shot at his L’Arche house in Trosly, France, with video clips of his core members and assistants, shown on Vision TV, home of Daily Mass and Murder, She Wrote, and old shows that do not play there anymore, Touched by an Angel, 7th Heaven, and Doc, starring country star Billy Ray Cyrus, known for Achy Breaky Heart and his daughter, Miley Cyrus AKA Hannah Montana. 

Since the opening of his first home, lots of communities have opened with residences, apartments, and day programs across the world, including Canada. 

In Atlantic Canada, there are communities in Cape Breton, Wolfville, Antigonish, Halifax, and Saint John, and projects to open a house in Fredericton and Newfoundland. 

L’Arche Cape Breton’s community has day programs The Ark, the Angels’ Loft, and The Hope Chest.  It also has houses and apartments.  Along with these L’Arche Cape Breton also has a chapel where they hold multi-faith services.  L’Arche Cape Breton’s core members and people have starred in videos I Am and We Are. 

L’Arche Antogonish has houses and day programs.  Their day programs are Horizons, formerly LEAP and an art place. 

L’Arche Wolfville, also known as Homefires, has houses and a day program called Applewicks, known for homemade fancy and beautiful candles, used for prayer services, which we, L’Arche Saint John, for meals and Advent candles. 

Now, it is safe to say that Halifax now has a L’Arche duplex, as this house is 2 houses connected to each other, but this community does not have a day program. 

And finally, L’Arche Saint John, has only one house to date, but we, as L’Arche Saint John, hope to open a second house and/or a day program to expand our community. 

When L’Arche turned 50 a series of celebrations came up. 

For the Atlantic Community, the first of two 50 Fest celebrations came up.  This was held in Halifax, with lots of friends from all over L’Arche Atlantic in attendance, with a speech and a concert at Citadel High School’s Spatz Theatre, a Pub Crawl with a karaoke party, a breakfast and church service at a local Anglican Church, and, thanks to me who came up with this neat idea, two nights at the Best Western Chocolate Lake Hotel with a swim in the pool and Jacuzzi and LG flat screen TVs in each room and a continental breakfast. 

The second and final celebration of 50 Fest was, in fact, held in Saint John.  This was a concert at Imperial Theatre with lots of people, including friends from L’Arche Atlantic and my Mom in attendance, called A Few of our Favorite Show Tunes, involving musical numbers by people, including selected samples of the upcoming musical The Sound of Music and ending with Gray and me singing I’d Do Anything from Oliver, honoring my new nephew, and then McKim House, and later the whole ensemble singing The Lion King’s Hakuna Matata.  ​

A Very Excellent 50 Fest

Congrats to L'arche's 50th anniversary! This blog post is dedicated to that happy occasion. 

Chapter 1: Speeches at Spatz Theatre

My group took a rental car, a Buick, to Halifax, stopping at Tim’s for a smoothie and a rest on the way and Subway for lunch. 

We soon got to Halifax and went directly to Citadel High School to set up at Spatz Theatre. 

Then we went to supper with a few friends, including our speakers. 

Then we went back to the theatre to hear the speeches, and it was wonderful, except I was starting a cold, my second in 2 seasons.  I caught one when I wanted the Abba CD and the Marley & Me: The Puppy Years DVD. 

After this we went to Best Western Chocolate Lake Hotel to stay there and our room had a view and an LG flat screen TV. 

        Chapter 2: Swimming and Music at Spatz Theatre

Today we woke up in our hotel room, met, and got some breakfast. 

Then, since our hotel room did have a pool and I have never stayed at a hotel with a pool and not used the pool, we went to the pool and the hot tub and enjoyed it. 

Then we went back to the theatre to set up.  Today there was to be music from Nova Scotia’s Men of the Deeps and Terry Kelly, known for his Remembrance Day song A Pittance of Time, which he wrote in a Dartmouth drug store when an announcement came up to observe 2 minutes of silence and everyone, except a father with a little girl, observed 2 minutes of silence, as this father tried to engage conversation with the store’s salesperson. 

Also I was to use my new guitar to busk, raising money for L’Arche. 

This went very well, and Stephanie came and took pictures and videos of me playing.  And we raised lots of money and I got a blue T Shirt. 

Tonight we went to a pub for supper and a karaoke party.  This also went very well until I got a headache, and I thought my immune system was super low and I may now have had a cold and the flu, as Dr. Ross’ cold and flu chart said a headache was rare with a cold and more likely with the flu.  At karaoke I sang with Stephane for Yellow Submarine.  Later, due to my headache, I headed back to the hotel room. 

        Chapter 3: Breakfast, Church Service, and Drive Home

Today we had breakfast with the various communities at Trinity Anglican Church. 

Then we had a church service with some of us, including me, playing music on various instruments, me on the new guitar.  

Then we drove home with various stops, and got home with the Autism Symposium 2014 trip in JUST 2 DAYS and New York City Christmas 2014 to look forward to!  Just imagine, 2 flying trips to a big city in one whole year!  

An Epic and Fanci-ful Vacation

Chapter 1: Monday 

At St. F X in Antigonish

          We got into the new just-won Kia Sedona van and headed to Antigonish.  We stopped at the Salisbury Tim Horton’s and I got a smoothie, trying it with the Greek yogurt.  We connected our phone to the sound system and played our summer mix, then played the other group’s mix CD.  Our group, by the way, consisted of me, Stephane, Silvana, Justine, and summer student Tricia.  We entered Nova Scotia and went through the Cobequid Toll Booth.  We passed the Only Exit to Halifax, which we skipped.  We then passed Stellarton, not only the birthplace of Sobeys grocery stores and Big 8 water and pop, but where Mom and I picked up Ella, my second Border Collie, after losing Molly, my first Border Collie, at 6 years of age before my move into Saint John.  Within minutes we entered Antigonish.  We first stopped at Sobeys to pick up groceries, including our traditional vacation snack Sun Chips and traditional vacation cereal Cap’n Crunch.  We went to Hope and Dixie Houses, and then went to find Horizons, formerly L.E.A.P., as someone there had the key to our house, Covenant House.  I learned that Yeshua House had closed and was being demolished, and I was saddened.  It has to be sad for a loyal L’Arche person when L’Arche houses in the Atlantic Region close and get destroyed.  We went to Covenant House, down the road from the former L’Arche House and down the road from the Sobeys.  We set up and got settled.  Tonight we wanted to have a campfire and noticed we did not have a lighter or matches, so we walked back to Sobeys and picked up a lighter.  Tonight we had a campfire with a guitar and songs and roasted marshmallows. 

Chapter 2: Tuesday 

          Today we drove to a close beach to Antigonish and some swam while I took pictures with my Blackberry and played the guitar.  We also picnicked.  We went back to Covenant House and walked to a nearby dairy bar and got ice cream.  Then we walked back, and tonight we went to a nearby pub to have a drink in hopes that live music would be playing, but none was, so after my Perrier I went onstage and sang Danny Boy, Cockles and Mussels, and When Irish Eyes Are Smiling. 

Chapter 3: Wednesday 

View from the Harbour Hopper

          Today we took a day trip to Halifax.  First we went to Mic Mac Mall and we shopped.  At HMV I bought Bruce Almighty/Evan Almighty collection on DVD and the Simon & Garfunkel Greatest Hits CD.  We headed to Downtown Halifax and got tickets for the Harbour Hopper.  There I saw a book I really wanted called the Harbour Hopper’s Best Halifax Stories.  Then we took a walk, caught some of the Busker Festival, walked some more, and then headed back in time to board the Harbour Hopper.  Within minutes it took off, and the narrated tour commenced.  The narrator got us to go “Ribbit-Ribbit” twice on this tour.   We went up a hill, through the Citadel, past the Public Gardens, down Spring Garden Road (I saw the place HMV used to be and I also find it sad when an HMV I had shopped in and listened to top 40 music in since grade 11 closes), back to the waterfront… and went into the water.  The narrator talked about history I already knew about from school and the Heritage Minutes videos from TV.  Then after going past ships that were there and then past the waterfront, and then emerged from the water.  Then we got off the Harbour Hopper.  Then we went to the ferry terminal and took the ferry to Dartmouth… and took the ferry back… and went to Cows Ice Cream and had our favorite ice creams in waffle cones there.  Then we went to the Old Triangle where the Alexander Keith’s commercials with the angry guy was set and had supper there.  I had fish and chips with a Perrier.  Then we headed home.  

Chapter 4: Thursday 

Basketball

          Today Silvana and I went to Coles Antigonish Mall to see if I could find the book, which I did, and buy it, which I did, and to see if I could find a souvenir for Debbie who always felt left out if I mentioned vacation.  We headed back… and went to a local interest store and I bought a book for Debbie to enjoy and to read to Kristina.  We also bought a bottle of blueberry syrup and a CD for Covenant House as a thank-you for letting us stay there.  Then we went to Hope/Dixie Houses for a multi-community barbecue and I played the guitar.  Then we went to Hearts and Hands and got a tour and then we went to Horizons and we got a tour, and there I played the piano.  I played while Stephane and Silvana went back to Hearts and Hands and bought a souvenir for Stephane and one for Silvana: artwork by Tom Landry like we have in our kitchen at McKim House.  Then we headed home, had supper, and then some of us got a tour of St. F. X.  University where Mom, Dad, and Jennifer, all went to university, and which had the basketball teams I loved to watch play.  There I saw the big football field, the hockey rink, and the basketball court where the varsity teams I watch plays and practices.  I went home and enjoyed my book.  Then Stephane, Silvana and I walked to Sobeys and we got snacks for the drive home:  I got Sun Chips and Stephane got Lay’s Old Fashioned BBQ chips. 

Chapter 5: Friday 

          Today we visited an old friend of Jocelyn’s and our community’s in a nursing home named Carroll.  Then we walked home, packed up, got into the car, fuelled up, and headed home, passing Stellarton and the Only Exit to Halifax along the way… and stopping at Holly’s in Hampton, where I got chicken strips and fries and a strawberry milkshake.  Then we headed home!  So ends Vacation 2014.  

An Epic, Fanciful Stay-Cation!

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Enjoying a New Brunswick Stay-Cation

Chapter 1: Monday

Today was Day 1 of Stay-Cation.  Sophia, Silvana, Krista, and Stephane, were in PEI to go camping in tents.  Debbie, Tricia, Gray, Kristina, and I, all went in our brand-new just-won Kia Sedona van with automatic-almost-anything, and went to Rockwood Park to walk and picnic.  Then we went bowling at Bowlarama.  The first string Debbie had 95 as total, I had 87, Kristina had 82, Tricia had 73, and Gray had 70.  Debbie won that one.   And in the 2nd and final string I had 94, Debbie had 93, Kristina had 90, Gray had 78, and Tricia had 73, so I won that game. 

Chapter 2: Tuesday 

            Today Jocelyn, Debbie, Gray, Kristina, Karen (Kristina’s Mother), and I all went to Campobello Island via 2 ferries: one to Deer Island, and one to Campobello Island.  On Campobello Island we picnicked with Karen’s niece who was a Border Patrol officer.  Then we walked to the nearby beach to the picnic table.  We got a tour of Eleanor Roosevelt’s cottage.  I took pictures of these with my Blackberry’s camera app.  Then we had Tea with Eleanor Roosevelt, where we had tea (in my case water) and lemon cookies and gingersnaps as we listened in on a speech on all of Eleanor Roosevelt’s great accomplishments.  Then we got a cookbook on cookies.  Then we went to the beach.  Then we went for a nice scenic drive, stopped at a restaurant where all of us, except Kristina and Debbie, had fish and chips (Kristina had chicken strips and a baked potato and Debbie had a cheeseburger with ketchup and relish and fries).  Debbie was allergic to fish, and Kristina’s eyebrow went up on chicken strips and a baked potato.  Then we headed home by ferry. 

Chapter 3: Wednesday 

            Today Debbie, Kristina, Tricia, Jocelyn, Gray, and I all went to the Kennebecasis Island for some time and supper at Jo’s camp.  On the way we took the Peninsula Princess, then a smaller ferry.  I played the guitar and sang some songs from Frozen, Camp Rock, and The Wave.  We barbecued sweet potatoes, and salmon and pork chops for Debbie who, again, is allergic to fish, and me, who only likes fish if it is fish and chips.  We then had s’mores.  Then we headed home, taking the same 2 ferries. 

Chapter 4: Thursday 

            Today was like living all 4 Free Willy movies, Flipper, and Andre.  Debbie, Stephane, Krista, Kristina, Jocelyn, Sophia, Silvana, Justine, Gray, and I, all went to St. Andrew’s to witness a whale-watching cruise.  It was my first whale watching tour. First we picnicked again, and then we went to a store to buy a rainproof hat for the tour and a St. Andrew’s hat with a whale on it.  We then went to the building, paid for our boarding tickets, and then waited to board a boat.  Then we boarded the ship and within moments it took off as fast as an Air Canada Jazz jet on takeoff mode, so, imitating an airline captain, I told a joke, “Please make sure your seat and tray tables are in their upright, locked positions.”   Within moments we passed where we had taken the ferries to Deer Island on Tuesday en route to Campobello Island, then we came to a little island where a whole bunch of seals and porpoises were playing together, so it would be safe to say we took this trip on porpoise!  Get it?  Then we took off again.  Later we saw some eagles and 2 kinds of seagulls: gray-backed, and black-backed.  We also saw some dolphins.  Then we passed Campobello Island and its ferry.  Later, within moments, we saw a few whales!  I tried to capture it with my Blackberry’s camera app.

Sorry, Free Willy fans, no orcas, no Willy.  After an hour and a half, we turned around.  A tour guide then came with a tank, and in it were a starfish, a baby starfish, urchins, crabs, and other sea creatures.  Later we docked at the wharf from which we had taken off.  Then we headed home and celebrated Jocelyn’s Birthday! 

Whale-Watching off St. Andrew's New Brunswick

Chapter 5: Friday 

            This was the nostalgic day.  Today Silvana, Stephane, Justine, and I took the rental, a Nissan Pathfinder, to Fundy National Park.  The reason this was nostalgic was, back in the day, while I was a child and we lived on Taylor’s Lane, Mom, Dad, Erin, Stephanie, Jennifer, Melody, and I, all, several times, took the Ford van to Fundy Park to go camping, listening to Dirty Dancing, Lionel Richie, The Big Chill, Stand By Me and other memorable music along the way, all three dogs:  Nicky our mongrel, Katie our older Golden Retriever, and Simon our young Golden Retriever, all with us. 

Back to now. 

We hiked in the Caribou trail, or should I say, the Karibu Trail? (Karibu is Justine’s language, Swahili, for “Welcome”).

Hiking the trails in Fundy National Park in New Brunswick. 

 Then we picnicked, and we went to the visitors centre as I remembered, as a kid, this had a series of shops, and I had a question:  Why the direction signs had changed colors from dark desert tan with yellow lettering like some that remained, to dark green with white lettering, and they said the previous color was for Provincial Parks and this was a National Park.  I noticed they had Jennifer’s second book in stock: White Cave Escape.  And I totally forgot to tell the salesperson that the author was my sister.  I had already told the salesperson in the Digby Ferry’s gift shop that the Chocolate River Rescue author was my sister.   Then we took a scenic route to Moncton, and on the way I gave a Harbour Hopper-style narrated tour of Albert County, Hillsborough, Riverview, and all points in between, then we passed Bessborough School and I showed them.  Then we went to my Mom’s house, and we talked over a Pellegrino mixed with orange juice and Greek yogurt.  Then we walked to Jennifer’s house to show them Danny and the house.  We were just about to leave when Jennifer showed up with Brennan and Connor, who all got brand new electric guitars!  So they gave me back my electric.  We headed back up to Mom’s house and a couple expected guests showed up.  Mom prepared supper and we had it here.  Then, using my returned electric guitar, I gave everyone a concert of Catholic hymns and well known old songs.  I played a song written by one of my fellow Key Industries In-Key Choir members, called Passion for Music.  Then we headed back, and I took my stuffed Collie from Universal Florida, which I named Troy, and my black and white stuffed dog, which I had gotten Christmas of Grade 12, which I named Kevin, after Kevin Jonas from Camp Rock. 

So ended Stay-Cation 2014!  Stay tuned for a story of Vacation 2014!  

Same L’Arche Time, Same L’Arche Channel!