R14, D21

[IslandGirl]

Thank you all so much for your comments. I always appreciate them, but last night was particularly rough - lots of anxiety, and nobody around to get me out of my head or give me a reality check. So I read and re-read your comments, and...thank you.

I awoke to an awesome Receive. I haven't had a haircut (or colour) since early April, and it's feeling pretty dingy. I'm not one of those every-six-weeks people, but my ideal is every 3 months or so. Hair is one of those expenses that I consider a "nice to have," but prices here are extremely high, so when things are tight, it's one of the first things to go. I discovered that a local salon is having a teaching class for highlights and needs "models" - for a discounted rate. But, as I mentioned to my sister, because I don't yet know what's coming next, work-wise, I'm saving everything I have for my next Financial Situation payment. Anyway, this morning I received a wonderful email from my sister... and she'd sent me enough to do the "model" colour. She also offered to "hire" me to help her find new music she likes (of course, I'd do that for free, but at the moment...ok, I'll do it for hire, too!)  And as always, her email was filled with love and insights and big-sisterliness. So that was a great way to wake up.

There was a cruise ship in town today, and I've never seen so many people downtown. We get several cruise ships a year, and this one wasn't any bigger than any of the others, but I was walking down the hill just as they'd all arrived. In any case, within an hour, I'd given directions and suggestions to three different groups of people (including a couple who was heading towards a lumber yard, which I was pretty sure wasn't their intended destination). The latter couple, as it turned out, were from a town not 30 miles from where I grew up, in New Jersey (near Princeton, if you're wondering - the area that puts the "garden" in Garden State). They now live in South Carolina, but I marvelled at meeting people essentially from my hometown here, more than 3000 miles away. While I was talking to them, an elderly homeless man came up and asked them ever so politely for change. They stared at him, and I told him I didn't have anything on me, but I would try to remember him in the future (and I made a mental note). He gave them a deep bow before turning and walking away. He was so sweet, and I wish I'd had a grocery card for him. They just kept staring, so I tried to re-start the conversation with "We have extremely polite homeless people here." They said they were shocked to see homeless people in Canada...which led into the beginnings of a political discussion that I sensed I didn't want to participate in, so I wished them a great visit and continued walking. 

Later, two young women (not tourists) asked me to take a photo of them, and I took several (the lighting was odd, so we had to try a few times).

One more cool thing: I went back over to the small island/forest to write, and my Post-it note from yesterday was still up in the washroom! I know they cleaned the washroom, because there was a wedding over there this afternoon. And I was so glad, because I know weddings can bring up such strong emotions...and if any of the women attending the wedding were feeling down, I hope the note cheered them up. (I've never wanted to get married, never had the whole wedding fantasy... yet even I get all "Why doesn't anyone want to marry ME?" at weddings)

I hope you all had lovely Saturdays (or Sundays, in the Southern Hemisphere). Cheers!

[Deb~ Community Manager]

You are a true Angel on this earth and all that meet you are blessed! xoxo

[Aunty Nean]

You are a wonderful, kind and generous person with such a beautiful, honest spirit. How wonderful for those people to have met you.

[Dawn wwt]

i don't blame you for not wanting to get into a political discussion with the cruise couple, those seldom turn out well in my experience. it sounds like you had a really good day, with a lot of positive stuff going on. i'm so glad of that because you are sure due for a big dose of that! sleep well, my friend : )  Hugs, Dawn

[Lois55 wwt]

Your sister is such a doll, you are great for one another, such a special relationship. I'm glad you are going to be a model, you deserve that fun! I know how it is to let ourselves be last when it comes to making sure the other bills and things get taken care of... You had a full day of different interactions....that is really nice that your post it is still up and making smiles happen....take care, Sweet Friend..sending some hugs your way.xoxo