What is Upper Cape Like After Canada looking like the movie Frozen?

Day 1 saw Stephane, Vic, and me, all going to Moncton in the 2015 Kia Sedona which we used for Quebec City 2015 and staying for lunch En Route to Bouctouche so Stephane could see his family. 

Enjoying the beach.

Later Erin, Christopher, and Oliver, all met Mom and me at Costco, where the Camerons used to take me to browse, watch the TVs play a certain movie, and eat Twist ice cream before I moved into L’Arche. 

They didn’t have much of a DVD or CD selection, but we got groceries and Mom and I looked at TVs as ours upstairs was fading and I liked the LG LED TVs and the Samsung TVs like the one in McKim House, and Erin said she didn’t like the Hi Def TVs because it makes movies look like a BBC show or soap opera. 

We also looked at books and I saw an Eyewitness France book and an Eyewitness Australia book. 

We went home. 

Tonight after supper I watched my DVD of Pitch Perfect, enjoying the music again. 

Day 2 was the day I had been waiting for after 2 Frozen-like blizzard-filled winters and no Upper Cape or Camille’s. 

We love walking the beach when the tide is out.

We packed up the car...and headed out to Upper Cape, leaving our dogs behind.  

 Dad had left early to take his John Deere ride-on mower to mow out a path to the beach and Glen, who was already there with Stephanie and Mo, was mowing. 

Mom and I went in Erin’s red Toyota Rav-4 with Oliver in the car seat, and I enjoyed his company and his excitement and his chattering. 

 We got there and the sight of the cottage and our beach excited me. 

I had brought along, as with every year, my copy of Nop’s Trials, as a tradition which started in 2006 before I lost Molly when I was borrowing Jen’s copy of this particular book, and I read this most of the time while I was here. 

I changed into my bathing suit which went very well with my T-shirt! 

After a lunch of snacks, such as nachos with salsa, crackers and cheese, lots of berries, and lots of Perrier, we headed to the beach for a long-awaited swim in the water. 

I went in and so did Erin and Stephanie, and I enjoyed my swim so much after 2 years I was doing Jean Vanier poses from his pictures on his books.  

After this I went back and relaxed, reading the book while my feet and bathing suit dried. 

Relaxing in the cottage.

As a note, this was also my first Upper Cape visit since I had my BlackBerry Q5. Therefore I used this to take some pictures. 

After hours of relaxation, visits to the water, strolls on the beach, reading Nop’s Trials, and enjoying the cottage we drove to Camille’s and I went with Stephanie and Glen in their new Mini.  

Once we got to Camille’s we waited for the rest of the group. 

Enjoying Camille's with the family.

Then we ordered our traditional summer meals, which in my case was Fish and Chips, and Mom had a Lobster meal, and Erin had Chicken Fingers and Fries, and some had Fried Clams and Fries or just the Clams. 

I brought along a Perrier can as all they served as drinks was Coke and Pepsi pops and water. 

We went home and I went in Dad’s Porsche Macan in which I had gone to Camp Wildwood a couple months ago.  

When we got home I was so tired.  I was like a bicycle because I was “2 Tired” and would have fallen over.  Therefore I went to bed. 

At Camille's!

Day 3 was return-home day. 

I had breakfast again with Erin, Christopher, and Oliver there to have fun with. 

I watched a PVR recording of an episode of Amazing Race Canada set in Halifax and I came up with the idea of L’Arche Saint John being a place where teams would come to do something to collect a clue and I thought in this place I would play a song and the contestants would guess the title of the song and if they guessed it correctly I would hand them their next Amazing Race clue. 

After lunch we went to Chapters to browse at books and I looked at a few travel books and then looked with Erin in the children’s section and I tried looking for, and looking up, Mercer Mayer’s Just For You, my favorite childhood book which when I used to read it had a tape with a song.  But I saw a whole shelf of Robert Munsch stories in big style and little style, like Mortimer, the Paper Bag Princess, Murmel, Murmel, Murmel, Thomas’ Snowsuit, I Have To Go, Pigs, and Mud Puddle, and other Munsch favorites I used to read and listen to as a child.   

Then we went to Shoppers to get a Globe and the Mail, excuse the pun, and I browsed at the movies and I liked one which was a 4-movie collection in which one was Bingo, about a circus Border Collie who saves the life of a boy whose father is a pro football player and the dog and the boy become friends for life, and I wanted this. 

Oliver at the beach.

We went home and I watched another PVR recording of an episode of Amazing Race Canada, here set in Sudbury, Ontario. 

After saying goodbye to Erin, Christopher, and Oliver and kissing Oliver, Mom and I went to the bus station and she bought me a ticket to Saint John and I brought my 12-string guitar, so we checked a suitcase and my guitar. 

We watched the train leave while we awaited the boarding of the bus, which happened within minutes, and later we left and I got home safely. 

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Bonjour, Quebec City!

Chapter 1: Bonjour, Quebec City! 

With Gray in Quebec City!

Today was Day 1, or in French, la premiere jour.  We packed up the van, set up the 2015 Kia Sedona van’s built-in GPS to lead us to the L’Arche Quebec City L’Arche House at which we were to stay, then took off in 2 vehicles:  a rental Mazda small mini-minivan, and our Kia Sedona, to Quebec City.  On the way we stopped in Woodstock where all these years I thought the farm at which I first picked up Molly was, but I got a text correcting me that it was in Centreville.  But we stopped and picnicked with the whole group.  We later took off and stopped in a Tim Horton’s close to the NB\Quebec Border.  Once we crossed the Border we stopped in a Quebec tourist centre for some info on Quebec City.  We drove some more, watching Hairspray on Maren’s computer.  Within a couple hours we arrived in Quebec City and turned the GPS voice-over on, which guided us to the house we were staying at.  After settling, we watched a video the house’s leader produced.  Then Gray and I walked to a nearby pizza restaurant, ordered pizza, and left, stopping at a Jean Coutu for San Pellegrino and other drinks.  Then we had supper together at our house and watched Kristina’s copy of Mamma Mia on the house’s LG flatscreen.  Then we went to bed. 

Chapter 2: Bus tour, tour d’autobus

Today we woke up, had toast and got in our van, setting up the GPS, which guided us to an underground parking garage near the Chateau Frontenac.  We were to split into 2 groups and one would go on a bus tour and the other would browse and explore the area.  On the way we drove down the street with the McDonald’s where I had the hotcakes and sausages with Dad before meeting Molly but the Archambault where I listened to the listening posts had apparently went out of business a long time ago.  We had a picnic with sandwiches, chips, cheesies, juice, and, of course, our water bottles.  We walked, browsed at a few stores, and paid for and awaited our bus tour.  We boarded the bus, which was a double decker, and sat in the upper level, awaiting the tour.  We drove through Old Quebec as the narrator gave us information on each historical building, landmark, and monument.  After the bus tour Gray and I went into the Frontenac’s lobby and took a picture of me in front of the elevators which Dad and I used to go to our room that October 1999 time, and then we walked to the car...and found a water fountain at which people were walking and running through hoses spraying water, most in bathing suits, and we had a lot of fun!  Tonight we had supper...and watched Stephane’s copy of Mrs. Doubtfire on the flatscreen...and went to bed. 

Chapter 3: Frontenac area revisited

We left...and split into 2 groups again and this time my group was browsing and the other would go on the bus tour.  We picnicked again...and went back to the Frontenac area.   While the other group prepared for the bus tour, we toured the Basilique Notre-Dame de Quebec at which we heard an organ tuning in progress and had Stephane pray for his church friends and family, went to a gift shop where I bought a Quebec City book with photos and information, browsed at some stores, including a department store called Simon’s, walked down the streets in search of a gelato\ice cream store...and found a store at which our group, including Maren who needed a taste of Canadian Maple Taffy before she headed back to Germany, and all had a sample.  We walked further...and I found a Source by Circuit City...and bought a green mist fan, one thing on my wish list.  Then we walked back to the Frontenac area...and stopped at a bakery so all of us could have a Quebec croissant, including Maren.  Then we walked down the street...and found a gelato place and I had the Gateau De Fromage gelato for the first time, which I enjoyed.   Then we went to the underground parking garage...and went home.  That is, our Home Away From Home, which is what I call L’Arche houses in other places where I stay on Vacation or Exchange.  Then after supper I watched Babe on the flat screen, and with the Hi Def, Fly and Rex and the Puppies’ moves were so real it was like reliving the day Molly and I first met on that Centreville horse farm.  Rena, if you see this Blog, I would like you to know a few things:  That in 2006 I lost her at 6 years to a tumor, that I still think of her, that I hope her 3 other sisters from the litter live nice long lives, and that I still look at the photos of her at all stages of her life.  Then we went to bed. 

Chapter 4: Ou Est HMV, Ou Est Archambault? 

Today was Shopping Day!   After breakfast we got in both vehicles, set the GPS systems, and followed the GPS to the mall.  This mall was like Quebec’s version of Edmonton’s West Edmonton Mall and Minneapolis’ Mall of America, as this not only had cool shops and services, but this also had a roller coaster, an ice rink where people could skate/play hockey, an arcade, an amusement park, and a huge IMAX movie theatre with all showings in French, except for Minions or in French, Les Minions, starring the yellow gibberish-speaking characters from Despicable Me.  We gathered, went up an escalator from which we could see the hockey\skating rink (Kristina took the elevator as she was in a wheelchair and did little stairs and no escalators) and within minutes, found HMV.  Here I bought Annie, Mrs. Doubtfire, Pitch Perfect, and Jurassic Park on DVD and Now Party Anthems on CD.  Others made great purchases too.  Then we went down another escalator, while Kristina took an elevator, to a store called Forever 21, specializing in fashion and jewelry, and during that whole time, I tried looking for a sac a dos or backpack, but there was none in sight, and Gray had to take Kristina back to our Home Away From Home while the rest of us did more browsing...and ate at the food court with a view of the amusement park, the skating/hockey rink, and the arcade.   Then we went home.  Then I watched my copy of Pitch Perfect on the flatscreen, enjoying the songs again, and awaiting supper.  Back when I was with family on Stay-cation, we watched that movie with Erin, Christopher, and Jen and Brian on their Samsung flatscreen, with Danny by my side for most of the time.  But I still wanted to do 2 more things:  get a gift for Debbie for her birthday which was the next day, and see Archambault and listen and make a purchase, so later after supper Gray and I left the house, following the GPS back to the Galeries De La Capitale, also known as the Mega Parc.  We went into the mall’s Simon’s which was apparently a chain in Quebec, as earlier we were in one down the road and around the corner from the Basilique Notre Dame de Quebec, and this one was in a mall in a different location.  Here we got a scarf for Debbie which she wanted when we were in the other Simon’s and played with ideas of gifts to give the house we were staying in as a merci for letting us stay in the maison.  Then we looked for a sweet shop and found one on the end of the rink and got Debbie and Jocelyn each a treat bag.  Then we went through Simon’s, got in the car...and drove to the Archambault, which I found in no time!  There they had computerized and 3-disc listening posts so I had to ecoute.  This not only had DVDs, CDs, and books, but there was also an instrument department with pianos, guitars, other instruments, instruction DVDs and music books.  Here I bought Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3, thinking it was 2 and 3 because of the look of the case.  We also bought Debbie a DVD as a gift.  Then we went into a home décor store next door as Gray wanted things for her new apartment and we played with ideas for the house.  Tonight, once we went home, we watched my new DVD, which showed a CGI Chloe the Chihuahua playing classical music on a hotel’s piano twice, once slowly, and once up-tempo. 

Chapter 5:  Poissons et Oursoms de Polar a L’Aquarium

At the Aquarium

Today we were to go to the Aquarium and there were amphitheatres like in Free Willy where Jesse is assigned to clean off graffiti after being caught by cops for vandalism and stealing restaurant food and a caterer’s cake with his friends and makes friends with the whale of the title.  Then and there I wondered if the whale tank draining scene was just CGI like the Jaws shark and the Jurassic Park dinosaurs and that amphitheatre is the same one in Free Willy.  Here we saw all kinds of sea life, 2 polar bears, some seals, and a walrus.  Here we picnicked, got a tour...and went home to get changed as while we were outside it poured rain, cleared up, poured rain, cleared up, and poured rain some more.  Kristina sat this outing out and it occurred to us she may not have been feeling well, which worried me.  Tonight we went back downtown or uptown (Monctonians call downtown “downtown”, and some Saint Johners like me call downtown “uptown”) and got some gelato (I got Gateau de Fromage) and we searched the downtown area for a restaurant, stopping in Notre Dame churches for a tour during which Stephane prayed to himself for his church friends.  After a short walk we found a pizza place called Pizz. I got the Hawaiian Pizza with a San Pellegrino Limonata as did someone else.  I ordered in French as I had been practicing my French skills for this entire trip.  Then we found the car...and went to our H.A.F.H. (Home Away From Home) 

Chapter 6: Bienvenue, Andreanne, et Bonne Fete, Debbie!

Today was Debbie’s Birthday and she wanted a pancake breakfast for her birthday.  And Andreanne visited us from Montreal.  BTW, Andreanne was an Assistant in 2011/2012 and was with us on Vacation, McKin-Mas, said goodbye to me when I went to Atlanta with John O’Donnell, Jocelyn, and Don Dickson, and went with me and a few people to hockey games.  She joined us at our table.  After breakfast we sang Happy Birthday to Debbie, gave her a cake to blow out the candle...and gave her the birthday gifts which we had bought 2 nights ago.  Then we relaxed...and went downtown just one more time.   Here we parked by the Terminale de Croisiere, and went to a few shops.  Today some of us went to a few shops, had a few of us, including Maren, but except for me, try a Beaver Tail, which was like a giant donut sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, another Canadian delicacy, and went to the Farmer’s Market, where Krista, who now had a sore hip, had a Diet Pepsi, and Gray had a San Pellegrino Aranciata, and looked around for oven mitts for the house as a merci gift without luck.  Then we took the Funiculaire, which was the train-like elevator that leads from way below the Frontenac to the area, which was so much fun.   Then we went to the gelato shop in the Frontenac AGAIN and I, once again, had the Gateau de Fromage in a waffle cone and others had the same thing.  Then Gray, Stephane, and I, all went to the Basilique Notre-Dame de Quebec for a Mass in French, which was on Stephane’s wish list and I shared this wish, as finding an all-English mass in Quebec City was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.  But I enjoyed this too with the music from the organ, and I donated $2 to the church.  After this we went to the first Simon’s, which was my idea, and looked for oven mitts and other kitchen accessories, as their current ones were not very good.  We bought some with pictures of lobsters to remind them that we were from New Brunswick, home of Shediac, dubbed “The Lobster Capital of the World”.  Then we took the Funiculaire again for the way back...and drove home...while at home Debbie and the others were thinking of places to eat for her Birthday.  She wanted nachos like she gets when she goes to a local Saint John restaurant called Thandi’s, so we walked, while some drove, from the house...to a Mexican Restaurant.  Here we were celebrating 2 things:  of course Debbie’s Birthday, and our last day of a successful, all-dream-filled vacation in Quebec City.  I had chicken nachos minus the onions with a Pina Colasa minus the alcohol.  Others had Mexican favorites.  Then the waiters, holding a cake, sang Happy Birthday and some of us added harmonies.  Then we went home...and straight to bed after our meds were taken, as it was a little after 10:00pm and next morning we had to pack up, clean the house, and head home! 

Chapter 7: Au Revoir, Quebec City!

Enjoying the drive

We indeed had breakfast packed up, cleaned the house, made sure we had everything...and headed home, saying good-bye to Quebec.  On the way we stopped at Subway for lunch for all different subs.  As a note, the Subway chain was Krista’s favorite place as she always says this was healthy with lots of veggies to choose from, compared to McDonald’s and burger places.  Then we drove some more, watching one of Kristina’s new DVDs, the 2014 update of Annie which we watched at the theatre the previous Winter after my New York Christmas, and I recognized the places shot in the movie from being there, and I was amazed at the size of the building where Annie stays with her adopted family.  Once we crossed the border we stopped at Tim Horton’s and we had snacks and I ordered in French. Then we went home a little after 10:00, unpacking our things and sending the rental car back to Enterprise.  

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. 

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.  ​

An Absolutely Wonderful Family Time!

I had gotten back from vacation and was almost back in the swing of things.  But this Thursday, supposedly to Monday, I was to spend time with Mom and family.  So I bought a round trip to Moncton and took the Maritime Bus system to Moncton.  Mom picked me up and told me (my brother-in-law) Matt and (niece) Clare were there and (sister) Melody was to fly into town that same night.  We got home and I greeted everyone there, including our dogs Liza, Lupin, Ella, and Sprocket. 

Topping up Clare's juice.

I was told Sprocket had developed similar health issues Emma had had before she passed away of the cancer tumor. 

I was also told that after some time off the air, famous TV dog trainer Cesar Milan started a new show called Cesar 911 and I watched part of an episode.  Back in the day the National Geographic Channel showed him on a show called The Dog Whisperer.  There he worked with famous people, like John Grogan the genius behind Marley & Me, a book which became, in my description, The Titanic of Dog Movies, starring Owen Wilson and Friends’ Jennifer Aniston, and the late Ed McMahon.  And nonstop during my visits to Moncton I would watch that show on that channel and whenever Lupin or Mo barks wildly at me or some stranger I do Cesar’s famous “Sssss” or “Shhhhh” sound.  I can also impersonate his accent. 

(Matt’s parents) Chris and Milton showed up and we had lunch and Chris had made her family-famous Orange Salad which I enjoyed with lunch, AND supper later that night.  Mom, Clare, Matt and I went to the Moncton International Airport to pick up Melody and (niece) Emily and Chris and Milton met us there. 

Within just under an hour the plane landed and within minutes Melody and Emily showed up. 

As I do when a new assistant from another town or country comes to L’Arche by plane, I helped Melody with the bags by carrying them to the car and said to them, like I say to anyone moving into L’Arche Saint John from another town or country, “Welcome to New Brunswick!”   

We got home and had supper where Jen, Brian, Brennan and Connor joined us.  They had just gotten new guitars: Les Paul guitars, one blue, one burgundy, one a Gibson, and one an Epiphone. 

We even Face Timed Erin, Christopher, and Oliver. 

The next day we were informed that now Dad had an issue with one of his eyes, so Mom and Melody rushed him to the hospital, and they said he had to be rushed to a Halifax hospital, the only place with a specialist who would do surgery for Dad’s eye condition. 

Later Stephanie and Glen showed up with Mo.  It looked like, though I bought a round trip ticket that would send me back on the 12:30 bus back on Monday, I would have to go back early on Sunday.  But Stephanie and Glen and I were to have a great time. 

Stephanie, Glen, and I went to the Superstore to do some grocery shopping, which was an activity I loved to do all my life, so I helped find the food we needed for the meal, which is why sometimes when an assistant has to go to Sobeys I ask to come along to help.  We got a few pizzas, some sparkling drink, and vegetables with ranch dip in the middle, and some dessert.  Kelly and her children showed up and we exchanged gifts as their birthdays were a few days ago. 

We played Desert Island Discs too.  For my song selection I chose Gangnam Style as if I were on a desert island I would need music to exercise to, as that plays at my Zumba classes. 

Jennifer had brought up a movie called Away to Me.  As any Border collie lover can tell by the title, it’s about sheepdog trials in the States.  This DVD shows an entire tournament with documentaries on each competitor, each dog and where each team is from and what they do when they are not trialing.  It talks about terms I read about in Nop’s Trials and Nop’s Hope. 

I watched it and I loved it so much that Jen said she would watch it and then mail it to me at McKim House to keep!  This would mean I would have Babe, Babe 2, 5 Mist Sheepdog Tales DVDs AND an entire DVD of sheepdog trials. 

The next day Jennifer, Brian, Brennan, Connor, Glen, Stephanie, Matt, Emily, Clare, and I all went to Champlain Place and Glen bought me the DVD set Problem Child 1 and 2.  Since I changed from the Citizen 19” TV/VCR Combo to the Toshiba 19” LED TV, I had missed Problem Child as I only had that on VHS.  I first saw the movie while I was in my second year in Cubs.  Now I had both.  After the purchases we went to Dairy Queen and had our treats there!  I had the Strawberry Cheesequake Blizzard, sharing some of the ice cream with Stephanie after all the great things she and Glen and the family had done together with me.  

Glen tries to steal Clare's Dairy Queen ice cream.

Then we went to Chapters Crystal Palace and I looked at the travel books and local books while the others looked at other kinds of books.  Then we went home, and Emily, Clare, and I watched Problem Child 1 together.  That night the family gathered together and used NetFlix and watched Honey, I Shrunk the Kids together, sharing popcorn together. 

The next day, as planned, Stephanie, Matt, and I, went in Dad’s Toyota Tacoma and headed to the Moncton Bus Terminal, also the VIA Train Station.  I asked if we could change the return ticket to this day instead of Monday, but I was told it that bus was sold out!  It was the first time I heard that with either of the bus services I used.  So we got a ticket that guaranteed me a seat on the 5:00 bus that night.  Stephanie bought a return ticket from Moncton to Bathurst as she had a business trip there. 

Then we went to the Pump House Brewery to have lunch.  It was my first time there, so I had the fish and chips with a Perrier.  I shared some of my fries with Stephanie like I had done with the ice cream from my Blizzard at Champlain Place Dairy Queen. 

Then we dropped Stephanie off at the VIA/Maritime Bus Station. 

Then we went home and within minutes Mom Dad and Melody came home and I told them I was praying everyday for Dad to get better, which I was and still am. 

Later Mom and I got in the car and left after saying goodbye to Melody, Matt, Emily, Clare, Jennifer, Brian, Brennan, Connor, Danny, Sprocket, Ella, Liza, and Lupin. 

We got to the Terminal, and within minutes my bus boarded, and within minutes the bus took off and I texted Stephanie and all my sisters as I had promised I would, and I texted them once I got home and emailed Mom, like I promised.