The roll of the universe...

Indeed, I do mean roll, not role... And sometimes those waves bring lovely souls, like brilliant bits of flotsam and jetsam, into your life like a soft blessing. Enter Leah and Michaela this week. But first I have to backtrack a touch. When I was with the youth centre, as some of you may remember, I joined TYPS (Town Youth Participation Strategy), the national youth centre board. The people I met during this few years were many and varied, and many have joined the ranks of my collection of souls I love. My first conference with TYPS was in 2006 (I think!) in Cornwall Ontario. Delegates from all over Canada, representing youth centres and groups, gathered to meet, discuss, create and share ideas. We were each given a tidy little book outlining our agenda, various topics, and in the back, we were told as we sat in the theatre, a spot to "write down the names and email addresses of the new friends we would make here." The young man sitting next to me smiled, and leaning over to me, wrote on his blank page, "will you be my friend?" I laughed and wrote down my name and info, and met for the first time the irrepressible Michael Bergeron from Orleans, Ottawa Ontario. He was there with his youth centre partner Andre Brisbois, and in an instant of sharing, Mike fast became a dear and lifelong friend. We met at a few more conferences, called and emailed now and then, always sharing the highs and lows in our lives, laughing, being very silly and, occasionally, doing things that, while fun, nearly got us arrested once! (I believe the pink and purple dog story is a few years back on my blog). Years later, we have kept in touch, sometimes sporadically, but the friendship has never suffered and it is always like we just saw each one another "the other day." Mike even attended my family reunion a couple of years back, cementing his spot in my clan. When we spoke on the phone a few weeks ago, Mike told me about his new adventure as an intern at a biodynamic farm in Ottawa with his Aussie love, Leah Shields. He had met her during his travels in Indonesia, and mentioned she was going to be travelling our way soon with a friend visiting from Australia. So of course, if I could not see Mike, at least I could meet this young woman I had heard so much about, and told him to let her know to look us up. I friended her on facebook, extended the invite personally, informed Tony I had invited two total strangers to stay with us, and two weeks later, late at night, she and her best friend Michaela were in our home, sipping ginger tea and trusting that we were not going to kidnap them and keep them on this remote ranch in the Rockies! They meant to stay only a day or two, then head towards Vancouver, stopping along the way in Nelson for a few days. But we fell completely in love with them, and convinced them to stay. The week has been filled with fun and laughter, good food and hugs, and I once again feel so very fortunate to live where I work so we could have this time with them. I am not certain I have ever had easier house guests, and with both at 23, it was much like finding two new daughters in my life. Tony fell in love with them as well, and today, Friday, we look at having to set them on a bus as Michaela's Canadian adventure ends Sunday when she flies back Down Under. I don't mind admitting I am really very sad to see them go. These beautiful young souls have added their colour and beauty to the tapestry of my life... and I am so thankful for that Cornwall conference that brought not only Mike into my circle, but Leah and Michaela as well. Travel safe my darling and daring girls... there will always be a bed and cup of tea waiting for you here... a safe port in any storm, our loving arms awaiting you. xoxo