Building Cathedrals.

There were three men sitting at the side of a road cutting stone for a new cathedral. The first one muttered and moaned, complained and wished he was doing anything else but this.  The second worked solidly and thought to himself of all the money he was making for his family. The third smiled and thought, 'I am building a cathedral.'

Seems to me that the story sums up my life so far - my blog, I think, is my cathedral and what a gift to be able to decorate it with stories of Canada.

Last night Gail brought down her wedding pictures to show me and with them an album that she thought might be a treasure chest - she didn't really know what was in it. Inside was an envelope and out of that fell a picture of me at 15 - angry, haughty and soooo cool. It was like taking a look into the past - I hadn't seen the picture since it was taken by Desmond all those years ago and I had forgotten that Joanna.

This  miracle that I am a part of; finding old friends, seeing old friends and making new ones just gets better and better. We went on a road trip to Montreal and Ottawa to see Gail's two sisters Debbie and Christine. Debbie is in Montreal with her husband Peter (of whom more in a minute) and her her two lovely kids Cheryl and Alex whilst Christine lives in Ottawa with her husband Steve.

The travelogue stuff I will save for the photographs when I get them. I want to talk about the amazing warmth and hospitality. Debbie is Gail's younger sister who we levitated, tortured and swore to secrecy about all of wrong doings. She never told. She is now an artist, a teacher of fashion and one of the most grounded and happy paople I have ever met. Her children are amazing - Cheryl at art school doing animantion and with a fascination for Geishas - her handmade hair ornaments exquisite. Alex, rather shy but with a wicked glint of mischief and so lovely, works with metal. And tehn there is Peter.

As I walked into Debbie's I was struck by the beauty of some big canvasses on the wall and by an exquisite harpsichord inlaid with different woods and decorated with paintings and piercings that seemed to be pure Art Deco. All made/painted by Peter. And then I met his guitars - you must, must go to the website and see them. They are works of art, sculptures inlaid with exotic woods and gems that play as a guitar should. http://www.exoticguitars.com/ Please, please look and if you think of a way to get them to the Ozzy Osbornes and Keith Richards of this world let me or Peter know.

I am overwhelmed by kindness, bloated with great food and so happy. Travelogue coming soon.

Image via Wikipedia

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