Thanks for the layers

Giving thanks is certainly not an annual holiday for me. Each day I am appreciative of so much and have many moments where I am nearly overwhelmed by my good fortune - my health, my incredible family, supportive friends, my career and coworkers, my stability, living in Canada, ability to travel and see things...the list goes on an on. The past month and a half was overflowing with experiences and moments that were so amazing. From a trip to Vegas with girlfriends including a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon (the only photo permissable to share), to Lighting the Night twice with friends, family, family of family including a host of energetic kids, to attending multiple other charity events with a variety of insprational speakers, to celebrating my big brother's 40th birthday, to enjoying turkey, ham and delicious salads and desserts with over a dozen (or 2?)aunts, uncles, cousins and children of cousins, living life lately has been a Thanksgiving zone itself.



And while it is so true that everything lately has been wonderful - even my health with a good visit to the bone marrow clinic and no need to return for 6 months, as well as finally getting hearing aids for both ears and finding out what the world ACTUALLY sounds like - I will share with you that I have just finished a very "flat" week - emotionally, physically, mentally. Very rarely do I feel this cloudy and exhausting greyness envelope me for no apparent reason, where my outlook on anything is not my usual positive, but rather just about everything is annoying, frustrating and tiring. Aside from the fatigue usually the physical affect of this is limited, but this week it was worse than ever, more like a storm than a cloud. And when I feel like this, I am further frustrated by the awareness that I am in that cloudy state, and have really no direct reason to feel that way (as the story above and pictures below confirm) and that further ticks me off. I decided to share this with everyone after talking to my cousin Amy who was very unhappy to hear how I was feeling but also commented that it was helpful to know that I am not ALWAYS positive (as no one is). I am happy to report that yesterday the grey really started to exit and it is pretty darn sunny again. I suppose that what is also important about these little storms and clouds, as I expect everyone can relate to, is that without them we wouldn't know what the sun really feels like. It's just another layer of life to experience, to have context as to what the other layers are really made of. So I am thankful for the layers.



Now a glimpse of the incredible last month and a half - I think the pictures really do the talking ....Cheers and Thanks, Tricia

A friend and cooworker Yvette and I were amazed by both the helicopter ride and the Grand Canyon itself...two life list items checked at once!

Elisabet (Ellie) Tricia Rose Gustafson, my cousin Holly's daughter, 5, shows off her Light the Night shirt - she had the most donors on our Saskatoon Tricia's Trotter's team. She also managed to bring with her as walking support Ed, Deanie (grandparents), Jamie, Holly (parents), Heather (aunt), Eddie, Mia, Lui, Beata (siblings) - all driving up from Regina - as well as her mom's cousins Rhea, Rhett and their spouses and kids, and her great aunt Shirley from Saskatoon!

The other Antonini twins, my cousins Jessica and Nick (Hanging with their grandma) also made the trip from Regina with mom Bonnie. My cousin Jenna-Lee and friend Becky also survived the drive up and it was great to see everyone. Jessica masterfully interpretted my speech at LTN 2010 about all of us being canvasses and that a potent life looks a little like a Jackson Pollock, and created our unbelievable banner to carry as we walked through the leaves along the river in Saskatoon on September 17, 2011.

Talyn and James are all bundled up for the Calgary LTN which was a lot colder - James' Dad is happy he's got a Starbucks to keep warm. My friends Michelle and Doug layered up little Morgan and Alex (who I think is looking down for the tiny flashlights my Dad discovered were being handed out).

Tricia's Trotters included Mom and Dad, my aunt Mary Ellen, uncle Marty and his partner Karen, Tasha and Talyn, friends Jamie, Laura and their son James, friends Doug, Michelle and their kids Alex and Morgan, friend Trevor with his dog Huxley (as a Whippet, our pace was terribly slow for him), friend (and former fellow LLS board member) Jim, coworkers Yvette and Julie, friends Neil with sons Andy and Alex (his wife Em, a leukemia survivor, signed up but had their baby girl Vivienne a few days prior to the walk!) Between Calgary and Saskatoon and PwC, Tricia's Trotters raised over $8,000 - truly remarkable. And there is still the Vancouver walk coming up this week!

He graciously declined the giant moose hat and singing at Montana's, but my brother couldn't avoid the paper version with his 2 little "deer" on either side. We had a really fun family dinner to celebrate his 40th on Oct 4, including a guy doing balloon super heros that Jack (spiderman) and Davis (incredible hulk) were thrilled with (actually all of us were mezmerized). Happy birthday big brother - wishing you an exceptional 40th year.

Sweet summer

Summer has really been rather wonderful, with the exception that it of course has slipped away so quickly. Lots of Elle Golf nights with warm calm weather and a sprinkling of good golf shots, slower pace at work with extra days off called Fabulous Fridays, more time on my patio, evenings with friends and family and only 3 mosquito bites. Stampede started the hot weather as usual and it seems to be continuing as September looms.

The heat will spike a little higher but the pool will help counter it when I head to Vegas on Friday with 24 women. It's the third annual trip with a number of girls from work and it always proves to be fun as well as proves that Blackberry Messenger is still the best free form of communication despite the IPhone's many other remarkable features. Whether you want to shop, dance, gamble or be poolside, a quick BBM and you know who is doing what where. Rather fantastic.

And for those of you who think I am always travelling, know that Vegas is really my first trip since my last Vegas trip in late April (4 months), except for a quick weekend to Regina in July in which I only flew one direction. And for those of you who say I am always going to Vegas, it's true. Three times this year, three different groups of people, and three exceptional value fun weekend getways.

Speaking of the trip to Regina, it was a perfect weekend for the weather, the friends, the family, the beautiful setting compliments of Ellen, the flowers, the words, the pictures, the punch, the laughter, the party - finally celebrating fully and appropriately my Grandma Gunn as we lay her ashes to rest at the foot of my grandpa's grave. She would have so enjoyed the crowd that gathered remembering her full and vibrant life and how much we all loved her.

And with September around the corner, I am once again planning to Light the Night in both Saskatoon and Calgary. No speaking this year, just walking and enjoying time with all the amazing people who keep me alive and who I could never fully express my thanks to. Whoever is able to come out - a very "chilled out" version! If you happen to be in Saskatoon on September 17 and want to walk, join the Tricia's Trotters Saskatoon team Tricia's Trotters Saskatoon or Tricia's Trotters Calgary team on October 1 Tricia's Trotters Calgary . I won't be in Vancouver but I know there will be a group there likely walking on October 15 as well. Certainly if you can't join the walk and want to support it, you can donate at Tricia's Fundraising Page. In any case, wherever you are I just ask you to do a toast to life and everyone and everything we get to experience during this crazy human experience we continue to enjoy. Cheers...

Tricia