Thursday, December 3, 2009

Going home With the Help of a Virgin




















We are on our way home to Kemble today to join the memorial service for Keith tomorrow. We are expecting snow and some bad driving. But there have been some signs that we are in good hands. For example, yesterday a sea otter frolicked in the river directly below our balcony --- and about a half mile from the sea! I'll take that as a sign that we also will be arriving near fresh water (Georgian Bay) after leaving salt water (Pacific Ocean).



And the processions for the Virgin of Guadalupe have begun here. For 12 days hundreds of groups (e.g. neighbourhoods, hotels, families, even Mary Kay!) will advance through the central streets to the landmark Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Virgin of G is the patron saint of Mexico and the tradition of these processions started in 1531 when a 57-year old Aztec-converted-to-Christianity saw Holy Mary the Mother of God in an aura of blazing light. (You can Google the rest.) At the church the groups receive a special blessing, and since we were in the church at the time, I figure we got the good wishes too. Of course, every group gets the full church bell treatment so our last night here is still ringing in our ears!

And finally, the banner I mentioned on November 26 has been changed from turkey to snowman. That must be a sign that we're going north safely, to build our own.

So we're en route home today. Thanks for checking in on this blog ---- more soon from the Vancouver Olympics!


















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