What gives your life meaning? What helps you to remember it?

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200 words, Calgary, caring, compassion, courage, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, Louise Gallagher, love, mission, Purpose, Relationships

Symbols can be so beautiful, sometimes.

Kurt Vonnegut Jr

Yesterday I had the pleasure of Louise Gallagher’s company. It has become a tradition for us to meet each year before Christmas. And I always leave our time together re-energized.

Among the many topics we cover, we talk about Louise’s current move to a new home. I imagine, because of Louise’s creative soul, she must have lots to pack as she’d be inclined to keep things that might be used in a future art project.

“Yes I do,” she affirms, and holds up a print out saying, “I look at this and wonder how I could use it for art.” She goes on to tell me about an empty container she keeps that reminds her to ‘hold space’ for things she cannot change, like the hurts she has caused others, or others’ have caused her.

I pull a black, shiny stone out of my pocket – an Apache Tear – and tell her when I feel it in my pocket I remember those whom I have lost in this life, and those who still struggle.

Do you have a meaningful object? What does it remind you of?

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

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Meeting Beaumont

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companionship, dog, family, friends, happy, Hump Day Chronicles, joy, kindness, laughter, life, living in the moment, Louise Gallagher, love, puppy love, Relationships

Louise and Beaumont, July 2015

Last Thursday I headed over to my good friend, Louise Gallagher‘s place so we could catch up on the goings-on in each other’s lives; but mostly I went to meet the newest family member of the recently hitched Mr. and Mrs. CC.

Let me back up for a moment…

It’s been a couple of summers since Ellie the much-loved Wonder Pooch passed away.

Back then, Louise had lovingly arranged heart-shaped rocks in a special spot in the park to commemorate Ellie, her faithful companion of many years.

It was a spot that the family could visit and remember their beloved pet who had been a constant at Louise’s side; both in good times and some really bad times.

Most recently, Louise felt she was ready for a new dog in their family.

As if Ellie was giving her blessing from the other side, the heart-shaped rocks that had been placed in her memory, were suddenly gone.

Fast forward to last Thursday and I was in Louise’s beautiful, Zen-like-I-could-live-here-all-summer garden meeting Beaumont.

To say that I immediately fell in love with him and fantasized about how I could kidnap him feels like an understatement.

Come here Beaumont – atta boy!

I mean look at him – how cute is he!

Oh my gosh – he’s adorable!

I know Louise was saying something to me in this moment, but I just couldn’t concentrate on her words. I was completely and utterly infatuated with Beaumont.

He’s so gentle and sweet and loveable and cute!

And I’m not alone in my thinking.

Another person who recently met Beaumont threatened to kidnap him on Facebook!

Click on any photo below to read its caption

Louise’s garden includes a memorial space for Ellie the Wonder Pooch

Beaumont won me over with his gentle spirit

Marley is not nearly as impressed with Beaumont as I am.

Beaumont spooning a cool clay pot on a hot summer afternoon.

Beaumont waiting for Louise to return with his dinner

 

In spite of the fact that Beaumont stole my heart, Louise and I did manage to catch up on each other’s latest news and share some wonderful food and drink.

Thanks Louise and Beaumont for a lovely afternoon.

You two are made for each other and I wish you many years of love, laughter and play!

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

It’s amazing how pets touch our lives and fit so beautifully into our families. Do you have a story about a pet that means/meant the world to you?

Friendship…

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Alberta, Calgary, community, Diana Schwenk, dreams, encourage, friends, health, Hump Day Chronicles, joy, living in the moment, Louise Gallagher, meaningful, Relationships, world issues

The language of friendship is not words but meanings. – Henry David Thoreau

Louise Gallagher
Calgary 2014

On Thursday afternoon I was looking forward to meeting with Louise Gallagher of Dare Boldly.

Louise and I first met offline, through our common passion and work with, and for, people who live on the streets.

Back in those days, Louise initiated a yearly Christmas wine and dine between us – a sacred space of sorts – for us to speak frankly and from our hearts about our joys, concerns and desired collaborative vision for the homeless sector and community living in general.

An open and trusting conversation was born that transcended our respective organizations and the common cause they shared.

And it was Louise who encouraged me to start a blog!

After some hits and misses as to where we would meet (restaurants that don’t exist anymore) we settled on Mannie’s on 17th Avenue.

There we fed our bodies with delicious food and wine and fed each other’s souls with our individual stories and dreams.

I always feel encouraged when we meet up to catch up. Inevitably there is something I am struggling with and saying it out loud and learning from Louise that I am not alone in my struggles, or hearing her perspective lifts my spirit and re-energizes me.

This is the gift of friendship. This is the value of community.

But it wasn’t all about us and our offline tête-à-tête. We talked about the value of our online community, particularly the readers we share in the blogosphere and how your insights and encouragements are a blessing to us.

Perhaps your ears were burning Ann, Val, Julie, Lisa, Elizabeth, Ian and I can’t remember who else!!

 ~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

Maybe Jess C. Scott summarized it best when she said, “Friends are the family you choose.”

Click here to read Louise’s story on our Thursday meet.