notre quartier le jour de la fête de Saint Jean-Baptiste

Yesterday was The Feast Day of St. John the Baptist in the Christian world. It is also the Quebecois festival of cultural and national sovereignty. Canada Day is July 1 but the Quebecois decided in 1977 to begin their Fête Nationale on what is considered the French equivalent of St. Patrick's Day. The former premier of Quebec, René Lévesque, made it a paid provincial holiday at the height of the movement for independence and it is now vigorously celebrated with parties, concerts and lots of alcohol. We spent a little time last night in Gatineau listening to the Quebecois Rednecks at a street festival. Clearly, a good time was had by all.

In Tucson, St. John Day was a water festival. It marked the traditional start of the summer monsoon season when rain swells the arroyos and dormant wild flowers break out unexpectedly into a surprise desert bouquet. In North Country it is a fire festival more akin to the summer solstice. Both are wonderful to behold! The Nativity of St. John the Baptist is paired with the birthday of Jesus of Nazareth - the only two birthday celebrated in Christianity - set six months apart at times in the Northern Hemisphere that approximate the summer and winter solstices.

Today was going to be another day of exploration, but already it feels too lazy. Sometimes, as the old song says so well, you need to "lay around the shanty, momma, and put a good buzz on." It has been a satisfying sojourn: I was able to work out next year's calendar of participation at L'Arche Ottawa, say farewell to a L'Arche assistant returning to his home in Paris and a new career as a lawyer, honor another assistant's birthday, check in with my friends at Mountainview and enjoy quiet time with my sweet heart. We'd forgotten that in notre quartier le jour de la fête de Saint Jean-Baptiste. That was a bonus. I will meet with another L'Arche community leader tomorrow morning and learn more about the unfolding changes.

Before we head back to the US - and a quick visit to loved ones in Brooklyn - we will celebrate one more chill day in this great town.