Ontario:
Kind of slept in yesterday, visited with hosts and their other guest for a while, stopped in Maynooth for a couple quick visits and then dashed off for an afternoon with my friend in Highland Grove, sitting in the library with her and chatting as she did her librarian thing, chatted with in-comers and rushed to the community room to stir the stuffing! She and others were working on a big turkey dinner fund raiser. got to meet 3 of her grandsons and see a d-i-l down from the far north for a visit. Like many afternoons similarly spent when I lived in the Grove, except then her children were only a bit older than the grands are now!

Then back up to Lake St. Peter to meet Dave, the other guest, and we went off to dinner at my fav eatery and then to an open mic out east of town. He was determined to play and did his 3 songs and later went on about how the other musicians did not know any of them. I had never heard them and found them a bore. It was a wonderful old time event with old time music, about a dozen musicians, intermittent square dancing, waltz, two-step. I loved it. And connected with two people I had not seen in 15 years.

Then he decided to take the back road back to Maynooth so I held on and bit my tongue, wondering why anyone would do this mainly dirt road in the pitch dark with flurries. Back at the Arlington there was another sort of open mike - a terrific pianist, a marvellous performance by a guy in drag with a great voice, poetry readings, mini-skits... I sat out in the hall as it was too loud, and read my current novel. Tired and wanting bed! So much for an early night - midnight is early for some?

This morning I was off to the farm market (in the municipal gym) and a day of meeting old friends and acquaintances and lots of conversation with those and ones I have connected with over the few months I have been "back". A high point was being recognized and conversed with by a young woman whom I had not seen since she was a teen. I felt the gift of friendship. Did not sell much but it was a good day. I feel so much a part of the community here; it is home.

Stu and Les packed up their stuff and then helped me finish up and load the car and we came back to the house where they prepared a simple meal, including rosemary bagels from Montreal. I have been on line since about 7 - going through emails, including one from sick R who got some care today - a friend brought him an Iranian "cure everything" soup and made him herb tea! I phoned when I got back and he is much better than last night - taking C and Pau d'Arco, sleeping and watching TV, inlcuding the French channels!

Soon to bed.