The Best Year of Our Lives

This is the best year of our lives. This is the centenary of Wonderful Port Alberni. This is no ordinary year, and we are no ordinary people. I have been telling all I meet that this is the best year, month, week,day, moment of our entire lives. Some look at me and think that I am crazy;fortunately there are those who agree with me. Henry Ford said that whether you believe positively or negatively, you are right. We are in control of our lives. As the poet Henley says: I am the captain of my soul. I am the master of my fate.

So how are we going to spend this precious year? Each one of us was born with certain talents. Here we go again! I do not have any talents. I do not play the piano, nor dance well. I am just an ordinary person. I am asking you to make a shift in your thinking. As we think, we are. You have the power to change the world right here in Port Alberni. We can all sit back and watch things happen, or we can make them happen. What are you going to do?

At our last Food and Filosophy meeting,we discussed the following quotation from former John Kennedy: Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. I put this question to you: Ask not what Port Alberni can do for you, but what you can do for Port Alberni. Just think of the difference that can take place here and now in this community if every person decides to develop his or her gifts, or talents and share them with the other members of this community?

By now, I have lost a lot of people who will maintain that they are gift less, and that they will let the lucky few to go ahead and share their gifts with the rest of us. I know that you have stayed with me thus far, and I look for tremendous changes in Port Alberni. I believe in the power of one.I am talking about your power! Think of the number of people that has done so many good things for Port Alberni.There are so many others that are continuing to change this place with their positive thinking. Just think of Terry Whyte. He has left a legacy of which we all are very proud. He has set an example, let us then be up and doing!

CELEBRATION OF THE WORD ON JANUARY 30th at ABBEYFIELD. I thank the residents of Abbeyfield for allowing us to use their facilities for this organization. We have been here for seven years. Many people have shared their poems, songs, speeches in this building. Terry Whyte and his sister have shared their talents with us all. We meet from 7-8 p.m. and we invite to all to share your voices with us all. Talking about gift and talent. I thank Gordon Scoffield who has been giving us brushes with Shakespeare. Thus far, he told us the stories of Julius Caesar, Macbeth, The Taming of the Shrew, and the Merchant of Venice. On Monday, we hear the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet.Come and have your brush with the bard, and bring some of your own poetry or prose to share with us. We look forward to seeing you all.

CONGRATULATIONS TO PaGo Grannies: They will be celebrating their 5th anniversary on Sunday, February 19th at Abbeyfield Hall. They have now donated $25,749.44 to the Stephen Louis' Foundation. Grandmothers in Port Alberni helping Grandmothers in South Africa! Join with me in congratulating these vibrant grand mothers!