Hello from The Vale

Usually this time of year we are on our way to (or actually already in) Vancouver, British Columbia for attendance at a Science Fiction convention. This year, however, we have been unable to make the trip. Various things happened both here and in Vancouver. The convention itself is not being held in its full planned format. However, many of the fans are getting together anyway because they had non-refundable plane tickets and when coming from places in Europe and Australia, you want to make the most of your time. It is being called the Timeless Destinations Fan Gathering. They will be visiting various activities and sites in and around Vancouver such as the Fireworks displays Wednesday and Saturday evenings, Bard on the Beach, Granville Island and visiting various filming locations in the area.

One of our friends has already been to the Capilano Suspension Bridge (way to go, Sylvia!!!). If you have not visited Vancouver (or as our friends call it, Vangroovy), we highly recommend a visit. Plan to spend at least a week and more like three would be needed to really visit the wonderful sites around the area.

The wonderful actors, directors and crew who are willing to visit with these fans on their own time and help to raise funds for various charities need a mention here too. Thank you for all your time and effort in making this a truly memorable trip for your fans.

We will miss not being able to attend this year and know that you will all have a marvelous time. You will actually get to see some of the area and not just the inside of the hotel for a change. We envy you the opportunity. Hoist one for us at TT or where ever you happen to land. If you make it to the Horizons Restaurant, we highly recommend the Maple Glazed Salmon. The fireworks are truly magnificent and well worth the long walk in and out of the area to see them. Be sure to take a nice picnic supper with you and carry all your trash back out.

Today I thought I would write a little about challenges. We all face challenges in our daily life. Sometimes it is more challenging that at other times. Right now seems to be very challenging for many people, jobs are scarce, there is a lot of unrest in the world. What can we each do to improve our chances of coming through the challenges in great shape? There are a few quotes I found recently which deal with challenges and I thought you might find them something to ponder as you make choices and go about your daily activities.

“All progress is precarious, and the solution of one problem brings us face to face with another problem.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.

Each time you make a choice you are faced with more choices. The best thing to do is to just make the best choice you can at this particular time and move on to the next challenge.

“Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew. They’re what make the instrument stretch - what makes you go beyond the norm.” — Cicely Tyson

Each person has a role to play in this life, only by playing that role to the fullest can we progress.

“Fortunately, problems are an everyday part of our life. Consider this: If there were no problems, most of us would be unemployed. Realistically, the more problems we have and the larger they are, the greater our value to our employer.” — Zig Ziglar

And, the greater value we have to ourselves.

Looking at the news has been very disturbing for several years. War and more war. You seldom hear about the people who are working to make the world a better place for all. Only the big names get mentioned, and there has not been much of that since Mother Theresa’s passing. What about the normal everyday person who is working to increase literacy around the world, working to improve agriculture using the natural environment around the world. All we hear about is the fighting going on. No wonder people are more depressed and have more illness than ever before in the history of the world. Everyone wants to hear about the disasters and that is what we are fed without the leavening abilities of the heart-warming stories that are also out there.

I found a Native American quote today that I wanted to share for you to think about:

No tree has branches so foolish as to fight amongst themselves.

There is one God, one supreme Creator, many Teachers of his word. If we spent as much time working to spread his whole message of being one creation as we seem to in fighting about interpretations of his teachings, this would be a return to the Garden of Eden.

Well, it is July 5, the day after Independence Day.  The parade is over, people are back to their normal routines.  The weather for the foreseeable future is looking good.  Sunny skies, warm breezes.

The Gateway project was put on hold temporarily last week when bones were found in the debris pile.  Those bones have been determined to be animal bones.

The day is so wonderful it is a shame that we have to spend it inside working.  It makes you long for the days when you were free as a bird as a child to roam all over town, visit with your friends, walk where you wanted to walk and just generally enjoy yourself.  Allow the kids to be kids and not just miniature copies of ourselves, rushing, rushing, rushing from one activity to another.  Encourage them to be active but don’t push them into things you think they should be doing.

This is the kind of day when you want to have family fun, visit places of historic interest.  If you have never spent a 4th of July in Boston or Philadelphia I highly recommend it.  Washington DC is also a wonderful place to spend the 4th.  Events in those towns are really widespread.  In the smaller US communities there are still nice community parades and picnics.

Port Angeles is having a parade through downtown today at 6:00 p.m.  Flags are out on the street, a few stores are open for the visitors, the sun is shining and the breeze is blowing.  It is a perfect day to be outside enjoying the fresh air and seeing new sights.