She sleeps so much now, rarely gets up before noon. This is her summer vacation. She is growing and happy.

200 years ago, her Great Great Grandfather was born in paradise in Washabuck Cape Breton. And her Great Grandfather couldn’t wait to leave for the excitement of the big towns and cities.

I say paradise, A house on a hill with good land and a fresh water well, with an inland salt sea at their doorstep. The great Bras d’or Lakes.

We are trying to get back into that house. That is our dream…

I woke up from unconcious.

No reason, just because.

A signpost said Cape Breton.

Didn’t know just where I was.

There was no need to worry.

No panic did I keep.

I took a breath and filled my lungs.

To that deep Cape Breton sleep.

The first exchange happened at the Ingonish Wharf and this year the stuffed animals were returned to their original owners at the Wharf Restaurant (Freight Shed) in Baddeck.

When you haven’t dated in 10 years… There is no right moment. It’s all a blur. The right moment brings all into focus. She is in my heart and head now.

I wake up and I think about her. Everywhere I go, there she is. When I go to sleep she is where my thoughts are and I don’t think she has any idea about her power.

The day begins like any other, August 5th 2022.

I drag myself from sleep to out of bed to face whatever comes my way.

Vacation begins tomorrow but for now there’s still this one.

I am trying to be grateful for every moment, every experience, every task. And I have moments of success but somehow I feel I’m failing. I just want to be on that beach, swimming in that water. And when I’m there I will be thinking about what happened today. The today that’s still to come…

This is life.

The day was old and faded.

Or maybe that was me.

The sky was blue and pink and black.

And I was down on bended knee.

The day started off so hopeful.

I even wrote a poem.

Now the eve of this work done.

I’m just tired and want my home.

I saw Johny at the crossroads.

He was running for the cars.

Johnny used to run it all.

In the honky-tonks and bars.

Johnny said he’s getting old.

I said Johnny I’m old too.

I drive him up a couple doors.

And remember like we do.

There’s a rhythm in rhyming.

There’s a smile in the charm.

We live it all just day by day.

And pray we do no harm.