Home From the Rock

I am home from my first trip to Newfoundland. What an amazing place! St. John's was everything I expected it to be. The whole trip was wonderful. I was greeted at the airport by a man holding a sign with my name on it. He took us on a quick tour of down town St. John's and up to Signal Hill then to our hotel all the while entertaining us with his wit and story telling. I knew we were in for a good time.After getting settled we went to a small restaurant called Zachary's a place I knew right away was where we needed to eat on this day of honouring a book with Zachary at the heart of it. I actually returned there a little while later with Gloria and enjoyed a delicious piece of cheesecake. Later we were whisked away to the VIP reception by a capable and down to business driver who took us the short distance to Bianca's with the skill of a Nascar driver.From the reception Gloria, Burton ,Mary Rose and I walked to the LSPU Hall. The night began with the awarding of the Ann Connor Brimer Award and I was thrilled to have been the one selected. Thrilled, shocked humbled and honoured for my book to receive such a tribute. Gloria Wesley was sitting right beside me and was so gracious and Vicki Grant the other nominee came right over during the intermission and congratulated me as well. Thank you to both of them. I feel so lucky to have been in such company with two such

wonderful writers. The rest of the night and days that followed rounded out a terrific experience and memorable first trip to a beautiful part of our country that I hope to return to many times . Today back home and trying to come down from such a great experience. I am so grateful for everything that has come about since the launch last year. I have so much to look forward to. For now though I have to get outside, tackle the task of cleaning out my garden shed, get mowing and tending to gardens. Our neighbour is tilling our large garden with his tractor and the days ahead will be filled with planting. I will relish the memory of the last few days as I take on the chores of garden time. Just like writing you have to plant the seeds and do the work to see a harvest.