Chapter 1: Day 1
I took the Maritime Bus Service to Moncton, the 10:30 bus that got into Moncton at 12:40, but I arrived later due to waiting in Salisbury on some transferring passengers. But nonetheless I had a great first day.
Ella
Mom and I went to the nearby Sobeys to get things for the Thanksgiving weekend meals. This included 2 bottles of sparkling apple juice.
Then we went to Shoppers Drug Mart and Mom bought me a 4 movie collection that included Bingo, a movie about a circus dog who saves the life of a boy whose father is a place kicker for an NFL football team, that I used to rent in Grade 11 and used to own on VHS with my old tubes that I missed.
Stephanie showed up later from work.
Then we headed home and Erin and Oliver were there and we had fun together.
Then I played the new guitar for Oliver which he loved.
Pat & Oliver just hanging out
Then we had supper together and then I watched the new movie.
Later that night we planned Days 1 and 2 of our New York Christmas.
Chapter 2: Day 2
I woke up and had breakfast while Erin and Oliver were having fun. We were singing Oliver a song from the Stand by Me soundtrack, except instead of “Lollipop” we sang “Oliver”. He loved it and laughed.
Best Buds
Later Mom, Erin, and Oliver, all went shopping, stopping at the Banana Republic and buying some new pairs of pants for me, one of which I kept to wear back at home, and the rest to save for the New York Christmas 2014. Then we went to OshKosh and the clothes and the logo made me think of Brennan and Connor used to wear as toddlers when we filmed them for Gram while I was in Grades 11 and 12. Originally we were going to do this and see if I could get a haircut. But Oliver was feeling tired and we went home.
Then I watched the show The Best of New York where this wacky and funny Food Network host goes from restaurant to restaurant to see the recipes for the local cuisine and get some samples. It was also interesting when this host walked through the streets of New York to get to a certain restaurant, diner, or tavern. And it seemed fitting that I had lunch and then resumed the show while having 2 of Mom’s oatmeal cookies.
Chapter 3: Day 3
Today was shopping/browsing/haircut day. I had breakfast and then Stephanie and Glen took me to Champlain Place to get a haircut at Cut 2000. First we went to Sobeys to buy pumpkin flavored baby food so Oliver would have a Thanksgiving meal just like the rest of us. Then we went to Starbucks for a drink and I had a strawberry banana smoothie. Then we went to Cut 2000 for my 10:30 hair appointment and during the whole haircut I chatted with the barber about L’Arche, the 50 Fest in Halifax, the Toronto Symposium with Gray where we see Temple Grandin, and the New York Christmas.
Then we went to HMV and we browsed, looking for New York movies such as When Harry Met Sally…, but that was not there.
Then Steph, Glen, and I went to Moxie’s for lunch. Jen showd up and let me borrow her copy of the book Finding Danny and I loved it. Then we watched The Best of New York again and I loved it again.
A selfie at lunch
Later that afternoon I peeled potatoes while Brennan peeled apples for pie. Later Glen took Brennan and me to Spin It and Mom gave me a polymer $20 and I got the DVDs Dante’s Peak, Sister Act 1 and 2 collection and the CD Jock Jams 4 for Zumba music, and I got the CD for free with the 2 DVDs. This evening we had supper with a sample of Mom’s apple pie for dessert. Tonight we also planned Days 3-6 of New York Christmas 2014. Tonight I watched Sister Act and I loved the 60s Motown hits that come up.
Chapter 4: Thanksgiving Meal day!
Today was not only Thanksgiving Meal Day, in which we had turkey, Mom’s Apple Pie with ice cream, AND Jennifer’s Strawberry Shortcake, but Ella got 2 surprise walks. The first was with Mom and me and we saw beautiful leaves and a Corgi-Border Collie mix, which made it look like Ella was playing the giant in My Giant.
Our beloved border collie Ella
Later Glen took Brennan, Dad, and me to the BMW dealership, not only a nice car dealership with lots of cars to look at, but close to the Moncton Airport, from where we will fly to New York City this Christmas.
Family shot before our walk
We went home and within an hour or less we were seated at the table awaiting the Turkey buffet with the sparkling apple juice we had bought earlier at Sobeys. This meal included, of course, our turkey, our “cranberry sarce,” which is what Dad calls cranberry sauce, the turnip, Jennifer’s Sweet Potato Casserole which I took a stab at several times at L’Arche since I had gotten that cookbook with the pictures that Christmas, and 2 kinds of dressing: sausage dressing, then the traditional kind we use in Thanksgiving and Christmas. Then, as planned, came the pie with ice cream and it was a hit! Then we went for a group walk down the path to the field, again with Ella on leash with me. Then we paused for a photo op, for which I did the Jean Vanier pose from his pictures in our house and on some of his books.
Yum!
Then Jen served the Strawberry Shortcake, which made up for the fact that I did not get any strawberry shortcake with the McGrath family this summer or get to Upper Cape.
Then we watched a movie called Chef with Elf’s actor and director Jon Favreau and it was funny with lots of Twitter tweeting action. The food pictured was delicious looking.
Chapter 5: The Journey Home
This morning Steph, Glen and Mo all went back. Then I had breakfast and had fun with Erin and Oliver. Then I realized how much better Lupin was getting with me, with little to no growling or barking at me. Then Mom and I played Take 2 and I schooled her big time in 2 games. I brought my stuff up and returned Jen’s copy of Finding Danny on the desk between the stairs and the porch door.
Then I said good-bye to Erin and Dad and headed to the bus/train station. Within minutes it was announced my bus was boarding, so I boarded, and so ended the Family Thanksgiving 2014 Together with the 50 Fest in Halifax, the Toronto Autism Symposium with Gray, and New York Christmas 2014 to look forward to!