Why not Vancouver?

I've lived in Vancouver for 40 years (eeeeeep !) and before that Oakville, Ontario from the time I was 1 1/2 until I was almost 6. I was born in Vancouver and then we moved to Oakville, where my brother was born. I lived in the same house for twenty years, and then, after two temporary apartments, a secondary suite for 10 years, and then the secondary suite where I still live for twelve years, so you could say I'm kind of a homebody who doesn't like to move a lot.

I love the area I live in because it's flat, so it's easy to walk places, and many or most of my day to day necessary services are close enough to walk or a short bus ride. I don't own a car and have never had a driver's license.

I love the people of Vancouver and how multicutural it is. One of heartwarming memories I will carry always from our Olympic experience was from the last Saturday night, the night before the men's gold medal hockey game. Mom and I didn't have tickets to any actual sport events, so we had spent the two weeks of the Olympics going to all of the pavilions and other free venues and events. we had truly made our own olympic experience, which we had thoroughly enjoyed. That Saturday, Mom called and asked if I wanted to meet her downtown, so I did. The crowds were huge, but all very happy and friendly. Late in the evening we were on Granville St. (a very major pedestrian street and gathering spot) walking around. we stopped to listen to a street musician named Captain Canada and his band. He was GREAT ! Everyone, no matter age, race, gender, whatever, were dancing and singing. he really had a knack for playing songs that most people knew and could sing along with. Midnight came, and he started "O Canada". There we were, thousands of people, on the streets of Vancouver, singing our national anthem at the top of our lungs. Yes, I will admit that it was rather chauvanistic, singing our national anthem when we hosting the world, but as a Canadian it filled my heart to overflowing, because so often we hide our light. The best part, for me, one of the Olympic volunteers standing as the first person on one side of the semi-circle in front of the band. The gentleman was an oldr Sikh gentleman, so he was wearing a turbin. He was also, of course, wearing the aquamarine jacket the became the ubiquitous symbol of the thousands of Olympic volunteers. In his hand he had a Canadian flag, which he was waving along with every song being played. That gentleman truly symbolized for me the multicultural home I love.

So, why is moving on my mind ? As I said in my first message, I don't feel like I'm doing the best job I could be on my mission, I'm far away from where the decisions about torture and interrogation and the prisoners get made, so when something happens that I need to respond to it means, because what I have to say is most effective in person, that I have to figure out plane fare and make arrangements to travel across the continent, which takes time. If I lived closer, I could get there more easily and more quickly and more often.

Why can't I help mobilize people here in Vancouver? I could, or I wish I could. The truth is that most people here don't want to hear about the issue and what's going on, they don't want to hear about the real live people who are suffering. I've tried, and although people will listen, their eyes usually glaze over and they don't ask any questions. When I organize presentations on the issue, even friends here don't come. I don't mean this to put them down, and I'm not mad at them; it's just reality. My voice speaking about Dan's experience and the current reality can be valuable, it can change hearts and minds, but it feels like I'm being wasted right now.

Why do I feel like I can leave Vancouver? Well, really, the only people holding me here right now are Mom and my nephew. There are other people I love here, but I can come and visit, and we can email and IM. I'm not seeing them nearly as much as I used to, so will it be different if I'm not in the same city?

Some thoughts to ponder...

Make it a great day !
May your day be filled with love and inspiration.
Love and Hugs,
Heather