July 13, 2009. Western Head, N.S. Company Habits.

It is our custom to entertain each other's company. For instance, Gill has friends staying with her who live in Winnipeg, Doreen, Joel and three children. She invited us all to dinner at her home to meet her friends. One of the benefits of living here is you get to meet interesting and charming people. Saturday evening was the date. These folks met Gill in Cambridge when both Joel and Gill were on Sabbatical from University and where both Doreen and Gill rowed with the women;s rowing team. Gill and Doreen were fast friends in Cambridge. Joes kept his distance from Gill, perhaps because she is at the end of a long and storied career and he is just getting his research career up and running. I enjoyed all five of these visitors. The children are polite but energetic and full of vim and vinegar. Right after dinner, the three disappeared into the basement to play, in fact, the nine year old boy announced that he wanted to take the whole basement home along with the contents. The children are 13, 11 and 9, are all athletic and musical as are the parents. They would have loved to have been there at the same time as our girls.

The year in England was a wonderful experience for everyone. At home in Winnipeg, Doreen, the Mother, said the children have their own friends, but in England, they hung out together, the three of them, and played beautifully. The parents were pleased that there has been a spin off now they are home for a year. All family members run so of course they are thin. I invited them to Texas so I hope they will come. They have never been to Texas but perhaps they will not because Joel mentioned a book to Gill, called Pray, Live and Eat, and suggested to me that perhaps I might like it. My immediate response was to say "It is way too touchy feely for me". He just walked away. Evidently he meditates every day and once a year attends a seminar for a week on meditation. No wonder he stayed clear of Gill. I think I have the book wrong anyway.

This habit of ours is good for everyone. I especially enjoyed meeting the kids. Great kids.