Appreciation

This past weekend was one that really emphasized how fortunate we are to live where we do, as we do. The parade on Saturday was epic. The crowd was positive and energetic and the group of people I walked the parade with are all extraordinary. As Sifu Brinker often mentions, to think of all that had to happen to bring us all together at that specific point in time, at that specific location.

Then later to have the freedom to pick berries, to bake bread and muffins, and to share these goodies with my neighbours and friends. To stay up and listen to the bugs and watch the bats and chat with my husband about nothing at all.

Sunday was about celebrating the birthdays of my husband, my sister-in-law and my niece. A family get together with copious amounts of food and sunshine. I had the opportunity to draw penguins with my youngest niece and talk with my older brother, to look at the blooming lilies with my mother.

I'm a bit of a science geek and originally went to university to study astronomy. The vastness of the universe is unfathomable and the idea hooked me at a young age. To look up and see so many stars and know they are so far away that many no longer exist by the time you see their light. To know that in all that space there are so many events occurring that we never think about, planets and galaxies colliding, stars being born and burning out, the endless space between an endless number of stars in an endless number of galaxies.

And in all that the idea that I exist, here and now with all of you. It's unfathomable. And I am grateful.