Honey, I Sprung a Leak - 10/10/2024

Honey, I Sprung a Leak so, I’m Singing and\or Dancing in the Rain with the One I Love. (Gene Kelly)

It’s only water…

My apologize in advance, as this is extra long  read… Please get a cup of warm tea, pumpkin spice drink or whatever makes your heart smile and curl up for awhile.  Jamie Matthews says to warn that it may be a two tea\coffee\drink read. 

Jamie had a major leak with our Berkey water system last week.  Have you ever forgotten to turn something completely off…. well you get the picture.   When I got home from visiting a friend in the hospital he shared his story with me.  I had hoped by going across the street to visit her, that it would give him some quiet, alone time in the apartment.  Something that he rarely experiences because I am always here.  Jamie works so very hard around here.  He is a husband, servant mixed with a strong care-givers heart.   Well it would have worked out better if he’d remembered to turn the Berkey water system completely off after filling it.  Instead he got to clean off the cupboard, the floor & hang our kitchen rug outside to dry on the deck.  He said that he remembered hearing me say to the kids, when they spilt a glass full of water, “It’s only water.”  I told him that’s right it truly was only water.  Apparently God had felt we needed our cupboard & floor scrubbed by the sink and gave us a fresh rinse for our runner carpet by the sink.    God always has a purpose in everything.  We found out later His purpose even for this.  God does have a rich sense of humor.

Do you remember the Brother’s Grimm… they were best know as folktale writers.  “Cinderella”, “Little Red Ridding Hood” but “Rapunzel” was my favorite to read with my Mom.  I loved her long beautiful hair and by Grade 8 I had my version of it!  Lately I have been doing a killer impression of “Sleeping Beauty”.   I definitely have her leading role mastered to perfection.  You see it seems all I can do lately is sleep.  Guessing it could be a steroid crash, as I took my last steroid for my breathing issues last Friday.  I already have my Prince Charming and I wouldn’t trade him in for anything.  God must be rewarding Jamie for all his hard work with all the peace & quiet he has had in the apartment lately, while all I can do is sleep.  Jamie looked at me after I woke up yesterday, with his grin & said,  “I’ve finally figured out how many melatonin it takes to get you to sleep all day long too.”    Remember he is my cook.    Trish Parker & Lisa Richardson, I am taking the concept of, “Jesus took naps.  Be like Jesus”  seriously.  Love my shirt Trish,  THANK YOU!  Please keep praying for my girls & their honeys too.  We are all on a journey with God. 

In your youth what was your style\kind of music?  I was your typical “wanna be Hippy” who loved the “Old Time  Rock-n-Roll”.  CCR, “American Pie” (my three favorite … “the Father, Son & Holy Ghost”) and Crocodile Rock just to name a few.  What were some of your favorites?   I was a bare foot, I love Jesus kind of girl too. I remember asking for forgiveness of my sins and inviting Christ into my life as a kid.  I was on my knees in front of our living room TV,  while watching a Billy Graham Crusade.  It was actually in front of the only TV we had.  The living room was the hub of some fun family life.  Remember “The Wonderful World of Disney”?  That was a Sunday family tradition to all watch together.  However, this day I was alone watching Rev. Graham’s crusade.  Honestly, I was always mesmerized and in awe, when Reverend Graham spoke.  I watched stadiums full of people go forward, repent of their sins  and give their hearts & lives to the Lord.  My soul knew Rev. Billy Graham was speaking about something that I wanted in my life.  He accepted me, “Just as I Am” and I’ve never been the same since that day.  God is so amazingly good, even when we don’t understand. 

I always said I was born a few years too late, because I would have so loved being part of the “Jesus Revolution” movement.  Barefoot & getting baptized in the ocean etc.  Oh my Hippy-self was so there.  I remember painting giant Hippy flowers on the boat at my Grammy & Grampy Stevens’ Camp and going to “turtle rock”.  Calling all cousins do you remember doing this?  Richard Stevens, you loved those flowers, now didn’t you? Yes, I just loved my tie-dyed clothes too & actually still do. How many of you remember making those tie-dyed creations yourself?  It was a colorful world.  Your fingers were almost permanently stained, but it was always worth the surprising, finished product.  It was kind of like getting the prize out of the bottom of the Cracker Jack Box.  I just know you shook those boxes to find the prize too.  Tell me the truth, do you have any of those tie-dyed creations still in your closet?  Well I do & fully confess that occasionally I still buy some! Old habits can die hard and style recycles its way back in.  I know at times there must be a neon sign flashing above my head that says, “Under Construction”.  I do so hope it’s in psychedelic, hippy colors!  Remember “the black-light posters”?  How about “lava lamps”?  Is anyone’s inner Hippy getting channeled?  You know I still had a lava lamp not many years ago…. thank you Lindsay Sander.  When you have ADD it was a mindless way to entertain the brain & just relax.  Think about it, God is responsible for the “full spectrum” of hues in our world’s color palette.  They are unique & infinitely ever-changing.  Have you ever seen any two glorious sunsets alike?  God is such a master artist, as He paints our skies & our lives with His unique style & presence to walk with us.

Personally, I think that I am God’s full-time job and some innovative entertainment at times… especially when He watches me run in circles like a dog or cat chasing their tail.  How about when I try to find my way out of a self-created maze.  Are you listening, I don’t like corn mazes!    Just ask Jamie, if you spun me around twice in a mall, I’d never find my way out.    Absolutely, unequivocally, NO sense of direction.  It seems Debbie Moore & Jamie did this to me in the airport in Boston once.  Of all times, it was when my daughter Lindsay was leaving for a mission’s trip!

Do you remember “ant farms” and how much fun we had watching them?   Sometimes I wonder if that’s what it’s like when God is watching us.  How many tunnels and mazes have you created, without asking for God’s help first?   God has truly watched over me all my life.  Seriously…..this Dude NEVER sleeps.  At times when He is watching, I’m sure that He’s thinking, “Paulette stop!  Just look up & ask.  You have NO sense of direction.  Remember that I am the way”.  In John 14:16  “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life…”    I have always loved Jesus, but in the essence of keeping it real, I really just DIDN’T know how to fully live for Him.  It’s been a life-time of learning how to live for my Lord & King.  Some of those deep lessons were learned in the valley.  You know the one where you finally realize you need to look up & ask for divine help.  Without hesitation, I proudly state that He is still teaching this ADD, wannabe-hippy chick!  Can you see my hippy flowered & tie-dyed shirts?  How about all those incense?  I must have literally burnt myself out on them, I’ll because my lungs can NOT do any scents today.  Sandlewood used to be my favorite.  What was yours? 

What kind of dancing have you done?  Well I took tap dancing, jazz and ballroom dancing from Barbara’s School of dance in Calais, Maine.  I loved the fringe on my homemade outfits that my Mom sewed.  I don’t think I was really the beautifully, coordinated, graceful, ballerina kind of girl. I sure thought I had rhythm though.    Must have been the “hippy nature” in me that kept trying to leak out.  I also listened to all types of music with my Mom & Dad, from Big Band Music to Engelbert Humperdinck.  What about Al Hirt & the Tijuana Brass.  Do you remember that amazing trumpeter and bandleader?   Well my brother Henry Stevens could sound just like him on a trumpet.  Do you remember the Stage Band that was part of the Lubec’s music program?  I also loved the older Christain hymns  and still do love songs like “The Old Rugged Cross” and “Amazing Grace”… these still bring tears to my eyes.  If only Lauren Daigle had been around in my youth!  She’s my free-spirited, hippy-style, Christain singer that I just love today.  I totally love her original, free-spirit, clothes & music.   Jamie got me tickets to see her in Kansas once, but it wasn’t part of God’s plan that I go, because of complications of my journey with cancer & mobility at the time.  If you haven’t heard her song called “Still Rolling Stones”, please, please take time to listen to it.  Then imagine this free-spirited, 62 year old, wannabe-Hippy singing it at the top of her lungs while dancing around her apartment kitchen, as she was making an Easter dinner to it’s beat.   Just as in youth, I had that song on replay until I knew all the words.  It’s a lot easier today as we don’t have to rewind the cassette tape or find the exact track on an 8 track cartridge etc.  You can’t tell me that you haven’t danced around your home and sung at the top of your lungs to a favorite song before?!  As a Mom, I remember getting caught once by somebody I hadn’t met.  Lindsay & I were dancing around our dining room & setting the table, while singing.  I don’t know how long it was before I finally looked up & saw someone standing in our entryway watching us doing our stealth moves.  There’s nothing like first impressions, now is there.  Hum… you might have guessed that my kids did not have a normal childhood with me.  It was always an adventure.  I just LOVED being a Mom. 

By the way, as Lauren Daigle says in her song, God indeed is “still rollin stones”!  We are all proof of that.  Just stop & reflect for a few moments of all that He’s brought you through?  I am in awe & in tears, whenever I pause & reflect upon this truth.  It is how I know God has been with me all my life and has proven that He will NEVER leave or forsake me.  He has walked me through the Refiner’s Fire  many, many times.  He’s placed beautiful people in my path to walk with me too.  Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ”  KJV

So it was two weeks with little to no sleep, breathing issues to bronchial\esphogeal spasm, major incontenance issues and a totally “flat on your back kind” of fatigue.  The unique cocktail combination of the 32 ounces of caffiene delight from “The Bottom’s Up Cafe” ..  My praise no “code brown” that day!    Had my shower   as it was time for me to help improve the air quality.   This all while singing   and serenading my lucky neighbors.  This sets my frame of mind… you know the one while I sang to thank & honor my Lord & King, all while dancing in my heart in the shower.   Yes, my speaker was wide open in the bathroom.  If we choose, in His strength, we can go through the day with God’s style of joy!!!  Full of caffeine with it streaming through my system & then being loaded with steroids to start & complete my day.    I also love when God has many divine appointments for me that day & special requests.  So many God stories!  As I say, “Everyone has a story.”  One day I even got to get my hair trimmed, in Calais while on my caffiene\steroid combo high.  Love you **Phyllis Clark. God’s ways are not ours, but He truly NEVER ceases to amaze me.  Who has He put in your path lately?  Have you loved them with the unconditional love of Christ?    His divine appointments are an amazing blessing.   I was so weak last Friday, but God was clear that I needed to go to the last Farmer’s Market of the season… Love His divine appointments.  Every day is a gift, right Rosie, Gerald & Bazooka Mags. 

In reality for the past two weeks plus it has been a continuous adventure like none other.   It was a physical I can’t breathe mixed with my version of the old classic, “Singing in the Rain”.  But for me I was also “dancing in the rain”, like Gene Kelly did in the classic 1952 film, “Singin’ in the Rain.  If you haven’t seen that film, you should watch the clip of this song, so you get the full impact of this piece of written work. 

Did I mention that I have an excellent Extra Mural Team?  The whole package… nurse, OT, Respiratory therapist, PT etc.  They help me walk this metastatic breast cancer journey with dignity & grace.   My mind is very congniscant of this and I try to be a good steward with their time so each week when they call I tell them if I feel they don’t need to come see me. Somedays we can do a phone consult instead. We should not take for granted the provision, kindness & goodness of others.  These Extra Mural Teams  are critical & touch many peoples lives every day.  They are always encouraging me to not hesitate to call them if I need them.  We keep their phone number posted on our fridge at all times.  Honestly, my heart NEVER wants to bother them, unless I feel it is essential that I need their assistance.  On Friday Sept 20th, I knew I had to call, as I had trouble breathing and had a strong cough that just would NOT go away.  I have had four issues with my lungs for many years. These issues were from going through conventional breast cancer treatments in 2012-2013.   It was 2015 before it was discovered by my lung specialist, Dr. Andreani.  Through many months of his guidance & my charting my breathing, he created a plan that worked for me, so I could breathe again.  Not being able to breathe has it’s fearful moments. In my mind I try not to default to the “worst case scenario” and this is essential i keeping a positive attitude.   Though I will digress and will share one night that I did, though it was NOT the worst case scenario, in my mind, heart & soul I thought it was……actually it was a best case scenario.  It was very late at night and I could not breathe and it was accompanied by very painful bronchial\esphohigeal spasms.  Honestly it felt like someone was sitting on my chest. 

I quietly asked God, “Are you going to take me home now?  Then I quietly said, “I am ready if you are.”   

With His response I could picture him gently shaking His head no, and maybe with a little grin on His Heavenly face.  I heard his voice CLEARLY say, “No Paulette, get up and use your rescue inhaler (Duh).  I’m not done with you yet.”  God’s love, humor & wit do amaze me. 

My response was, “Are you sure?”     

Can you even imagine questioning God’s response after He spoke clearly to your heart!?!?    Told you He has His hands full with me. 

In my defence this breathing episode woke me up out of a sound sleep!  That’s what I call a real, “wake up call”!!!  Your head is “fuzzy” when you are woken up from a “sound sleep” and the pain was intense.  God’s touch of love & humor, in this moment, was the perfect gift.  You should also know that at this time I was also dealing with unresolved, very painful mobility issues.  Even rolling over in bed to either side, was very painful and trying to get out of bed was a challenge.  This was before I had my bed rail to help assist me, that my Extra Mural OT brought. In these situations God’s humor is an especially precious gift, as it relieves layers of stress.  I used my rescue inhaler several times & took Advil for the painful spasms.  BTW, the rescue inhaler wakes you up!  Eventually, after what seemed a very long time, the pain & shortness of breath did pass.  This time was precious, quality time with the Lord.  I could feel Him holding me close in His arms.  God truly does carry us when we need Him too.  Isaiah 46:4 “Even to your old age & gray hairs I am He,  I am He who will sustain you.  I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” You have to understand & accept where you are in life to receive God’s promises.  Yes, I am “the gray hair” & “to your old age” woman.  What was really amazing was that I had total peace if He had chose to take me home.  That is a powerful statement mixed with powerful spiritual meaning.  Are you ready?  In our harder moments I need to always reflect & remember that God has truly never failed me.  Looking up first to our Lord & King is the first thing we should always do. It is a powerful tool that can yield “divine peace” in the most remarkable ways.   What I’ve come to learn is that we have to trust ourselves, so we can completely trust God.  Sometimes our past mistakes & emotions can take us hostage (like shame).  If we have repented He doesn’t see our past mistakes.   They are forgiven as far as the east is from the west.  Let go & give them to God, so you can fully receive His promises\gifts…  It is a choice and you need to fully choose to do this. 

My, my, my… another rabbit trail.  Did you see those amazing fall leaves on this one?!    Fall is my favorite time of the year!  How many of you like flowers… well I do BUT “golden rod” & I are NOT the best of friends, though it seems, this time of the year, she is ever close & abundantly present 24\7.  As you age, you become like Humpty Dumpty with your health and you need to pay careful attention to the symptoms you are haivng & be sure you understand what is causing the symptom. You see many of the same symptoms can be caused by a wide variety of things.  My philosophy in life is that, “It is important to treat the cause and NOT just the symptom.”  That was also my philosophy when I taught special education, treat the cause, not just the symptom! Everyone has gifts… find them & help build them from there with a solid foundation.  God has helped me to listen carefully to my body in more intense ways and NOT jump into that “spiralling, worst case scenerio space” that cancer loves to trigger.  For awhile antibiotics became the “cure all” in our world.  They are a last resort in mine world.   

Ok… now back to the Extra Mural Team.  It is humbling to go on a journey with cancer on so many multifaceted levels.  And it is deeper, than simply having to humble yourself and to ask for help.  As you age, you don’t want to lose your independence.  For me, I also want to be part of my medical team and be sure to do my part.  I never want to ask anyone to do for me what I am capable of doing myself.  That’s how you get to keep your independence in a healthy way.  Unless of course, pride gets in the way.  On Sept.20th, I did have to swallow my pride and humble my spirit, mind & heart and call Extra Mural.  The receptionist is amazing when she answers the phone.  She is calm & knows exactly what to do.   I openly shared with her the difficulty I had been having breathing, coughing and very painful bronchial\esphogail spasms etc.  My respiratory therapist came over to see me within a few hours!  We came up with a plan of action based on my past years & experiences with my breathing issues and my specialist & doctors who had cared for me through that time which enabled me to breath.  Oh Dr. Acheson, he took such good care of me for so many years.   Sara at the CCH is an amazing respiratory therapist who has test\evaulated my lungs many times.  Twice she sent me from her office to the ER.  On Sept. 20th, it was Extra Mural’s Respiratory Therapist’s first day back, after being on long leave.  Can you image getting me on your first day back?  I have been told by a couple of doctor’s that my medical history folder was awfully thick.  Seriously, tell me about it, I’ve lived it!    I’m thinking that statement was not a compliment. 

Once on an initial appointment with a specialist he pinched my belly & said, “You are a chunkie one.” 

I reached forward & pinched him back and said, “So are you.”    (excuse my ADD)

I had undiagnosed Celiac Disease at the time and my stomach used to swell up like I was 7 months pregnant. 

Once during this season a sweet “Candy
Striper” greeted me as we entered  the hospital & said, “You need to get in the wheelchair”.

My response was, “Why”?

She proceeded to tell, “It’s the rules of the hospital.”   

Then she wheeled me to the maternity ward!  I gently explained to her that my stomach swelling was one of the reasons I was here, but that I wasn’t pregnant.  Oh her poor face when I told her.  I reassured her that I wasn’t upset.  Have you had any fun hospital experiences?  It’s always an adventure.

We can’t even begin to imagine what this Extra Mural Team of specialists must deal with in a day? PLEASE take time to pray for them! The plan of action for my breathing was steroids for a course of 7 days.  Anyone who has had steriods might be familiar with the concept of the “NO SLEEP factor” that accompanies taking them.  Remember I hadn’t slept the week before  either because I got sick from the injection & super dose of radiation…. Now I was going on week two of very rare & spastic sleep.  To compound this, the steroids actually make me hyper and my ADD much worse, almost off the charts.  Have you heard of warp drive from Star Trek?   Yup, that was me all while doing warp six combined with the concept of being beyond exhausted.  Now imagine doing the Bottom’s Up Cafe and receiving 32 ounces of coffee and having all that caffeine rolling through my system along with the steroids.      Oh my goodness the adventures this potent combination can cause.  By the end of the day I had done more than I ever dreamed possible and was beyond exhausted and yet I couldn’t sleep.  Thankfully last Friday was my last day on steroids.  That day I needed to go to the drug store & pick up a few things.   I LOVE my pharmacy team and it is extra special that Mary-Anne Greenlaw works there.  My praise is that recently I have gained more mobility from my superdose of radiation.   I am able to walk more on my own.  I told Mary-Ann after 14 days of not much sleep… that I walk like “a drunken sailor”, as I staggered to the counter.  I wonder what people who don’t know me or my situation must think??  Who’s that drunken old woman with that gray haired sailor?  As I was leaving the pharmacy, Mary-Ann started singing, “What do you do with a drunken sailer”!! 

I turned around, smiled big & said Yup that’s me!  Thank you for understanding my humor Mary-Ann and joining in.  There is the joy of the Lord on this journey and sometimes where you least expect it and of course in God’s perfect timing.   

Now turn back the calendar a few days.  It’s a week after injections and my radiation dose,  I’ve been sick for a week.  I am beyond exhausted.  Then speed forward again to me starting my steroids.  Bottom’s Up Cafe done & hyper activity in high gear with my ADD literarily on steroids.  What else could possible happen?  I caution you to NEVER ask that!!!!    Well, “Honey I sprung a leak happened”!  I did my premier performance of “Singing in the Rain” with Gene Kelly all while I was dancing with my Lord & King to get through the next hurdle. You might guess that on the Bottoms Up Cafe day that I like to clean my bathroom, even if it doesn’t need it.  I have some false caffiene energy & it makes me feel better to accomplish something.  I had scrubbed the floor etc., with my long handled scrubber, as bending is not my gift.  Singing away to my Christain music.  With all the caffeine & extra steroid energy, I decided that I was going to go visit a Friend in the hospital & take her some food.  Yes, I was going to drive myself.  For Pete’s  sake, I only live across the street from the hospital. While visiting my friend in the hospital, I knew if anything happened that I was in the perfect place to receive assistance.  It was an “all green flags” for the going concept in my mind.  I am not quite sure what Jamie really thought?  In my head, it would give him a few minutes of peace & quiet and a break from his caregiver’s\husband role.  In my heart I believe the caregiver’s role has some of the hardest aspects of my cancer journey.  Jamie had to watch me be sick for a week, not sleep and know that he really couldn’t do anything to change what I was going through.  Now we’re stepping into week two. Honestly, I don’t think he realizes how much of a difference he makes in my life on all levels.  He is my personal chef, assistant, best Friend, care-giver & husband.  My heart knows that I am very blessed.  When returning from my visit with my Friend in the hospital, I was totally exhausted but it is the “good exhaustion” that accompanies a feeling of accomplishing something in the Lord’s strength.  I went to go to bed that night & of course couldn’t sleep.  The next thing that happened was Honey I sprung a leak or should I say a FLOOD.  Those who have urinary & bladder issues will know exactly what I mean.  I stood up from the chair in the living room & didn’t make it past Jamie’s bedroom door and soaked through everything I had on & did my debut dance of Dancing in the rain.  It was quite a commanding & demanding performance.  I did ask for assistance from Jamie as I was exhausted.  Seriously God, I just scrubbed the bathroom floor this morning & had a lovely shower while serenading the neighbors?  Now just before bed it’s “clean up on isle 5” & my body is demanding a second shower? All said, I did have much to be thankful for.  What was I thankful for in the moment?…. that We do NOT have carpets!  Grateful that I had on long pants which caught a lot before my “dancing in the rain” trail hit the floor.  You must learn to count your blessings where ever you are.  If you do, that shifts your brain’s focus to positive things.  After my shower, I pulled up “my big girl paper panties” & also inserted a pad for additional coverage, all while hoping for a dryer event that night.  Much to my disappointment it was not and it wasn’t for several nights.  I handled it on my own without waking Jamie. By God’s grace I kept a good attitude.  By the time you get cleaned up & get the evidence of your trail erased… well you are wide awake.    And remember my ADD is also on steroids.   Would God find a purpose for this, yes He did.  As I lay there staring at the ceiling I could pray for people.  Then it struck me that my two buddies that are also going through their cancer journey  Trish Parker & Lisa Richardson were both medications too, so my theory was that maybe they’d be awake.  Guess what?  They were!   We messaged back & forth, like a group of three young kids sneaking texting, while their parents were asleep.   Remember when we use to take a flashlight & tried to sneak reading a book under the blankets instead of sleeping?  Of course this was before the days of Kindles. 
Lisa, Trish & I encouraged each other, cheered each other on & made each other laugh.  God is good even  when we don’t understand. 

One of Trish’s comments was, “oh my friend it's a journey, don't sweat the small things/puddles !  Laundry can be washed and so can the floors.” 

A message Lisa sent was, “Well, I'm glad you had some rest today… Before dancing in the rain LOL.  Hopefully the steroids stop doing that to you real soon.  I got up at 4 am and started baking date squares and molasses cookies.”  Did you ever wonder what really goes on at night? Well this is some of it in our worlds.  Come hang out with the “cool kids” who try  to make the best of it with Jesus’ help.  Now you really know why we enjoy being like Jesus & taking naps whenever we can. 

I now am praising the Lord that I got off the week long dose of the steroids last Friday & was finally able to get start getting some sleep.  Praising & thanking God that I seem to be potty trained again.. well for the most part.  It had honestly been a couple of weeks since I’ve been able to get a decent nights sleep.   My prayer had been for a few good nights sleep before my injection tomorrow.  God has granted that.  I just didn’t know I’d turn into “Sleeping Beauty”.

Today as a Christian “I’m sold out for Jesus and I LOVE how Jesus works” kind of girl.  Still a hippie at heart.  I love to see who He will place in my path or what He wants me to do for Him each day.

The blessings can be found in the hardest parts of the journey.  This is where we truly learn that we do not do things in our own strength.  On the wings of eagles He will renew our strength. 

Oh BTW we had our tub modified in preparation to accommodate for my mobility issues.  It looked like a crime scene before they came.  Jamie had things taped off & sealed up so no dust would spread during this process.  Praising the Lord for this provision.  I now can just step into the shower.  What a HUGE blessing. Picture above. 

Remember Jamie… the Berkey and the leak…. When Jamie was tucking me in bed for the night & I knocked over my glass of water on the night stand, he said, “It’s only water.”  We both chuckled & smiled at this truth… especially after my several days of “singing\dancing in the rain” to honor Gene Kelley.  I do chose to sing & dance in the rain, until things settled down,  It’s God’s plan & not mine.  It’s all in your perspective.  Thank you for your gift of prayers. 

May God continue to bless you in just the ways you need.  May you see Christ everywhere because He is there.  I close looking across the beautiful St. Croix river as I type.  Ever so grateful!    What are you grateful for?  After all it is almost Canadian Thanksgiving.  Let’s count our blessings.