It's been too long.

After letting several years pass by since my last post, I thought it was time to resurrect this blog.  It was a nice surprise to find out I don't need to know crazy html anymore.  I think that made me feel limited because I couldn't quite get my blog looking the way I wanted it to.  It's still not great but at least it's a start in the right direction.  Let's see how far I can take this...

J

A hard pill to swallow.

It was a rare momentary lapse..... another campaign ended in heartache,
keeping the Stanley Cup count at zero.

Malagasy Sunset

"City of a Thousand"....a thousand massed warriors of Andrianjaka, a thousand Renault 4 taxis whine up and down the cobbled hills, a thousand purple jacaranda trees blaze into life all over the city raining nectar on to the heads of skipping children and strolling couples. A thousand terracotta mansions with wooden balconies and tiled roofs stacked on to the hillsides turning gold in the setting sun, a thousand paddy fields glint in the pale light forming endless chequered patterns of green and brown....this is Antananarivo.

Photo by Landon Wood
Words by L.P.

Swirling Conclusion...

I stroll along English Bay to calm my thoughts with life, religion, and education swirling around in my head. One conclusion I come to; I find happiness walking the shore line crunching empty mussel shells beneath my feet. To see the waves smashing into the sand creating a foamy blanket that melts away into the earth. I love the sound of the rolling waves meeting their destiny.

Fallen Leaves
False Creek, Vancouver

By Chance

Is it by chance or was it meant to be? I left work an hour early feeling tired and hungry. I walked to the stop lights at Beatty and Nelson to find police barricading all intersections along Nelson Street. Something was up and I knew some one important was about to drive by. I had a hunch and it turned out to be true. Slowly gliding along was a black sedan with a man dressed in those stunning colours of crimson and canary sitting in the back seat. The man leaned forward looking out the window and waved his hand to me. I was ready for this and I waved back with a massive grin. Yep, it was the 14th Dalai Lama, waving to me personally, like he knew me. Of course he doesn't but he has this ability to care for all living things and takes the time to show it. He doesn't have to do it but he puts forth the time and energy even for something small like waving to strangers. Did he know, I knew it was him coming down the street and that I was waiting for him? I don't know, but I was left with that same peace I felt a day or two earlier. After he passed and the police went there way, I walked across Nelson street thinking how remarkable it was that I just happened to be there at that moment to have a small interaction with the Dalai Lama.

Long Live His Holiness The Dalai Lama

I've been to the Potala Palace, walked around his living quarters and even took pictures of the cat living amongst the relics of Buddhist history. Tibet is a long way from Vancouver but some how the Dalai Lama has showed up on my door step with blessings and greetings for all. I received a phone call from an excited husband telling me to get my shoes on and get down to Canada Place A.S.A.P. So I did. I scrambled to find the camera and a white scarf I had brought back from Lhasa but only found the camera and headed out the door. I made it just in time to.....wait. I waited patiently with tourists, Buddhists and security guards to catch a glimpse of a man I have read and heard so much about. I don't know how long I waited but when he arrived, there was almost complete silence as he walked the red carpet going through the usual rituals. He waved to the crowds wearing a smile and with out delay, he turned his back and walked into the coolness of the hotel. He was gone. It was over so fast; I didn't have time to really take it in. But from what I saw, the 14^th Dalai Lama looked exactly the way I had pictured him. I left feeling a peace I couldn't find in the dark, quiet monasteries of Tibet.