Musings on a goat

I had one of those moments of perfect understanding this afternoon.  The motivational speakers call it the "Aha!" moment, the "I Get It!" moment.

I was on my way through the park to downtown in search of a goat.  There was a woman ahead of me wearing a suit, and sneakers, and I thought how she was probably on her lunch, taking advantage of the glorious spring weather to take a break from her desk job.  She reminded me of me.  And then I GOT IT!

I am retired!

I mean, of course I knew that before, but all of a sudden, I really understood what that means.  It means that I can do whatever I want with my time.  It means no rushing to fill up evenings and weekends with all the jobs and joys I can't do between 9 and 5 on weekdays.  It means I can walk in the park in the middle of the day.  It's a gift.

And, it's a gift not to be squandered.

And I bought three goats.

Movin' on

Spring is a time of new beginnings, they say.  This spring, our family is writing the book on new beginnings.

In February, Mum moved from the house that she and Dad bought in 1959 - the house we all grew up in - to a rental two-bedroom condo, complete with dishwasher, elevator, and ... concierge!  Georges delivers her newspaper to the door of her apartment every morning.  She gets invites to coffee from the people in the elevator.  And maybe best of all, somebody else arranges for the snow to be cleared from the driveway.

In March - just this last weekend, in fact - our niece Allison, husband John, and toddler Hudson, moved from Calgary to Victoria and bought their first ever home - a condo - about 6 blocks from us.  While missing John's Calgary family, they are just so happy to be in Victoria.  Needless to say, we're pretty happy ourselves! 

Both of these moves were facilitated by Tom's nephew, Chuck, Realtor Extraordinaire, who is himself moving in April.  He and Jacquie are leaving the home in which they raised their son, and accommodated scads of relatives, to a smaller home in James Bay, almost next door to Emily Carr's home, and about 6 blocks from us, too - just in the opposite direction from Allison, John and Hudson!  As they mop and vacuum and fluff and dust, we wish them the joy in their new home that Mum, Allison, John, and Hudson, have found in theirs.

Meet you at the Beacon Drive-In!