bringing it all back home...

We are heading into our last three days of anniversary wandering: as much fun as it has been, with lots of together time and talk, we're both ready to slip back into our monastic-like routines in our own home with our wacky dog. Di has students to reconnect with, I have writing and some re-visioning to do with Small is Holy, and it will soon be Louie's 8th birthday to celebrate. And while I hope to make being in community at L'Arche Ottawa a more regular occurrence now that the border is open, we have some land to clear, gardens to prepare for winter, and a few more outside house repairs to accomplish.

Yesterday was a quiet walk through the Mile End neighborhood. It is just over the line from St. Laurent, the historic geographic division between French and English Montréal, making this area wonderfully bilingual in the 21st century. Our favorite Anglophone book store is here, Stephen Welch Books, as well as a small stand selling the world's best fresh gnocchi. It is a physically beautiful area of town and we always fantasize about living here. For a lark, Di checked the monthly rent and it's only about 5K! And so the dreaming continues.

Today will be a bit of nostalgia for us at le marché Jean-Talon, Parc Baldwin, and then a farewell evening at our all-time favorite jazz club Dièse Onze (check it out here: http://www.dieseonze.com) Le marché Jean-Talon in Petite Italie is another favorite neighborhood. It's where we first landed 15 years ago when we sensed a desire to be flâneurs in this grand city. It is a world class farmers market with some of the best Quebec fruit and vegetables arrayed in abundance with an eye for beauty. Even if we don't buy anything - highly unlikely - there's a little crêperie to die for - that always captures our attention. We'll head there by car as we have to move our auto by 2 pm for weekly street cleaning. (By the way, parking here is a bitch, but that's another story entirely!)

Then we'll slip over to Parc Baldwin at the end of L'Avenue Mont Royal - our old digs while on sabbatical - and just take in the quiet beauty. We would often stroll to this park in the early evening both because it is lovely and to give Lucie her constitutional. About half way through that experience an old Francophone woman started to greet us regularly - and then share some of her fresh garden vegetables with us. It is a quiet, attractive, anddown to earth part of le Plateau that we wish we could live in, too. A picture of Di and Lucie from our last night in Montréal still graces my IPhone. And then, after naps, one last night of live Québécois jazz!

In so many ways this get away has been refreshing and clarifying. For me it has been a chance to consciously live into my prayers: embodied spirituality. My body has taught me some of the constraints of aging; a few of those limitations can be changed but most require acceptance. I also know better how to be with Di as her health changes. We've both rested well. We have experienced the innate goodness of countless people who in small ways incarnate comfort and grace into a broken world. And we've watched as Mother Nature slowly reveals her commitment to balance as summer slips into fall.

I came upon this quote from Aldous Huxley that cuts to the chase:

Throw away your baggage and go forward.

There are quicksands all about you, sucking at your feet,

trying to suck you down into fear and self-pity and despair.

That’s why you must walk so lightly.

Lightly my darling,

on tiptoes and no luggage,

not even a sponge bag,

completely unencumbered.