We’ve made it all the way to Alberta, which I think has surprised most of us!  We had a great few days in Regina including staying with extended family of Glen’s.  Once again we are taken by the hospitality that we have been shown, Glen’s cousin Ron and his wife Bertha welcomed our entire group into their home and let us take over beds, showers, laundry - since some of our bins popped their tops, our t-shirts that we sell got wet and we needed to dry and refold them!  We turned their garage into a sweat shop as we had 12 bins to short, dry and refold - 3,000 shirts in total.  Thanks to Ron and Bertha for hosting us, we truly appreciate it.

The ride to Edmonton was a long one, but a good one.  It was a beautiful day and the riding was spectacular.  Sometimes when you’re the one the bike you get into the zone so much so that you almost forget what you are doing.  (It hit me the other day that I am actually riding a motorcycle across Canada and that we had made it to Regina!!)   While in the zone your mind is clear, you are void of all thoughts and truly just riding down the highway feeling the bike and road, listening to the engine, wind on your face and taking in all the sights.  I like to also call these times “in the moment” and today I learned a few valuable lessons about being in the moment.

While at the Strathcona market in Edmonton I met up with a nice couple who were just strolling by.  They had come to our booth intentionally, but not for us, as an elderly couple usually has this space and apparently sells the best produce around!  When they asked “what’s all this about?”  (we get that a lot)  I started to tell them about ALS.  We talked for about 10 minutes, we hugged and they bought a t-shirt.  As they walked away smiling and talking to one another about what they had learned it donned on me that not only had I helped 2 people who had never heard of ALS understand what it is, but I did it while in the moment and thinking of nothing else except truly educating them.  I had no expectations, no ulterior motives, no inner voice saying or thinking any other ideas or thoughts.  Nothing.  It just happened and I really enjoyed talking with this couple.  Of course when I turned to Drew and very excitedly said, “Drew, we are actually telling people about ALS, most of whom had no idea what it is, and now they do!”  He simply replied “You are only getting that just now, what do you think we have been doing out here for the last month!?”  Okay, so I’m a little slow to catch on sometimes….

After the market (which by the way, went really well and we hugged tons of people and had the most successful fundraising day yet…GOOD JOB EDMONTON!)  we went over to meet a patient named Brian.  He wanted to come out to the market but needed to stay home and wait for a delivery truck of cement.  Brian’s family was pouring concrete for the new walkways, ramps, and lifts being installed in his home so that he can get in and out.  We learned all kinds of things about Brian, his life, his family and what is important to him.  At one point when some of us were tearing up, he told us not be sad because he was truly enjoying his life to the fullest and that was not a sad thing at all.  As we talked and completed our interview, the concrete truck came and our team offered to help out!  This is something that I really wanted to do because I had poured concrete before and have some skills that could really be of use.  The thing is, I never made it outside as Brian and I started up a different conversation once the camera was off.  As we sat in his living room a lot of heavy questions came up and Brian, Robin, and I all shared some of our personal struggles in life as well as our own philosophy’s on who we are and what makes us tick.   We started talking about what is success and who defines that and what is truly important…the essence of life if you will.  I realized that perhaps the meaning of life is simply what we make it and perhaps it is nothing more than what makes us happy and what we chose to hold dear to our hearts.  I realized as the crew started coming in with big smiles on their faces, that they had in fact finished the concrete and I had not helped.  I realized that I had been present and in the moment so much so with Brian that I was not thinking of anything else…like the fact that I should be helping.  I was simply there, having an in depth conversation with 2 other people.  Nothing more and nothing less.  My time with ALS patients has evolved, I have learned to listen more slowly and also to simply be present, be in the moment and enjoy it for what it is.  Slowing your mind is a difficult skill to acquire but one that is invaluable! 

I thank Brian for sharing himself with me and for teaching me the value in slowing down.  As we left and I watched the day slip away as the golden sky turned to a pink hue, I felt as though I was the luckiest person in the world. 

-jeannie

Last Modified : October 15th, 2007 Filed under : On Location Navigate : Previous post / Next post