07-01-22 Happy Canada Day!
I awoke after 11.75 hours finally rested. I hope I was honestly just not feeling well and that it has passed but I will sleep with no alarm for he next two days to be sure. I spent the morning making lists so I don’t forget to bring anything with me. I then went in to the office to do some invoicing for clients and then parked at Rae and Rogers to walk down with Roger and the boys to the Canada Day festivities in Rotary Park. I was glad to make it there in time for the anthem which I sung with pride and as it finished the Freedom convoy in very small numbers walked in but as the MP, MLA, Mayor and our local Chief, all gave speeches there was nary a peep from them and in fact I noticed they quite quickly dissipated into the crowd, only proving their cowardice.
There was good food, good beer, great company, all the makings of a fabulous day. I really just wandered around chatting with and hugging many people over the course of the afternoon. Brass Monkeys was playing to start and as they were nearing the end the sky opened up and pounded down, even hailing at one point. As soon as that started MusicFest Marnée kicked in and I ran to offer help to Keon the sound guy. He was shutting his board down and I ran to grab muscle before unplugging the speakers and having them moved up onto the stage. It was then a quick run round the open stage turning off power bars, moving cords and pedals inward. All was well and there was a bit of a break while the clouds passed over and they could begin setting up for the next band, Pretty for the People. I was completely drenched so I walked up to Raes where I had been invited for a BBQ. I had a plate of food and then we all walked back down to watch the band for a while but I was still damp so headed home. I had a lovely day all in all.
The best part was a good long talk with Chief Joe Pierre from Ktunaxa Nation. I told him how much I appreciated his song and how far it adds to restitution as more people see it doesn’t have to be divisive. We had a good laugh about my being shown a Ktunaxa flag in the museum in Cranbrook UK as he knew the woman who probably gave it to them. I told him my daughter Ashlée took he and his sons portrait for her Mountains of Opportunity photo project and he shared that he set up his zoom background all through Covid with that photo hanging in the background. Sweet.
https://www.facebook.com/marnee.bellavance/videos/5557210167643522/?d=n
I binged Keep Sweet Pray and Obey which is quite horrifying. It is a documentary about the FLDS and Warren Jeffs. The atrocities to young women, well women of all ages are hard to stomach. It is a real peek behind the veil of organized religions power and especially of cults who breed their own disciples. I get why they were caught up in it and couldn’t see a way out, nor even desire it. I was very engaged in the born again movement in the 80s and know that the power of belief and faith and the knowledge that you are being led down a righteous path is strong. I still have my personal faith but it will never be one that fits in a church again. I was damaged by it and have chosen to shake off those shackles. These people though, it is all they knew. No contact with anyone or anything outside themselves… some didn’t even know who the president was. Sad. And also shows the power of men over women and other men if they are professing to be speaking on God’s behalf.
triumphgal 