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I Had To Rush Back + Was It an Accident? + Thrown Out of Court

Good Morning from Warren Grove, Prince Edward Island
 
Kettle on? Let’s have a chat today.
 
I am aware this morning like no other morning I can remember to realize how fortunate I am.
 
This weekend will mark our 35th wedding anniversary.
 
Early in our marriage, I was a workaholic and now see how selfish this endeavour was. I could fill the page with all the things I was or was not. 
 
The beginning of love is the will to let those we love be perfectly themselves, the resolution not to twist them to fit our own image. If in loving them we do not love what they are, but only their potential likeness to ourselves, then we do not love them: we only love the reflection of ourselves we find in them.~ Thomas Merton
 
I married an angel, I real one. A gift.
 
“Angels descending, bring from above, echoes of mercy, whispers of love.” – Fanny J. Crosby
 
Our story began around 1980.
 
While driving my ‘Mini’ I saw someone driving a ‘mini’ on Euston street in the other lane towards me.
 
At the time, it was customary for ‘mini’ drivers to acknowledge the other with a flashing of their car’s headlights.
 
Coming closer to the oncoming car, no such thing happened!
 
What, no reciprocal response! I became curious to see who was driving.
 
When I looked into the passing car, I saw a face. A beautiful face. Upon first glance, I was struck by the beauty, the integrity and the calm.
 
I remember saying to myself, I could marry her. She is so beautiful.
 
Over the period of one year, I saw the car and driver 5 more times.
 
During that year I was managing a dining room on Prince Street which had a help wanted sign in the front window.
 
A young woman walked into the dining room seeking information about the help wanted sign.
 
It was 10:30 in the evening and we were open to 1 am. (an Italian menu with pizza and a bar upstairs.)
 
I couldn’t help notice how attractive she was. I did everything I could to convince her this was a great place to work.
 
While we were speaking, the front door opens and in comes a few people in tuxedos. It was a bit different for this restaurant.
 
I excused myself from the conversation and sat the guests and gave them menus.
 
I rushed back to the conversation.
 
The door opens again with women in gowns, and more tuxedoed men flooding into the restaurant. 40 seats filled in record time, and I was on the floor by myself.
 
The National Ballet was in town and the orchestra was hungry.
 
I asked the interviewee if she wanted to start work now. She politely said, “no.” But offered to take menus to the table and fill the water glasses.
 
I don’t remember much else about the night, other than everyone got happily fed and the guests were first class, patient and kind.
 
Three weeks, later the interviewee came back and asked if the job was still available, and she immediately became our newest server.
 
After working together for three weeks, she mentioned her Dad had been repairing her car and just returned it.  I asked, “what kind of car?” She responded, “Mini, and it’s parked out front.” 
 

I loved Minis and had recently sold mine.

I went outside to look. I was gobsmacked

Here was the blue Mini I had seen 5 times over the previous year.

And in the building getting ready for lunch service, was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen driving it.
 
I ran back into the restaurant and lifted her up from under her arms and proclaimed that I had been in love with her for over a year. She was a bit shocked, I placed her back on the floor and explained the whole story.
 
Fortunately for me, we started dating, dating, and more dating. You see she was/is a lady, I was a boy.
 
Love is the greatest gift when given. It is the highest honour when received. ~ Fawn Weaver
 
We married six years later on June 7, 1986.
 
Through the thick and thin, I learned.
 
Another person’s love cannot fill the hole in your heart.
Filling up your heart is your responsibility.
You need to love and affirm, yourself day by day, moment by moment.
Without love for yourself, no amount of love from your partner is enough.
~Paul Ferrini
 
&
 
Your relationship with yourself is and always be directly reflected in all your relationship with others. ~ Vironila Tugaleva
 
&
 
You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have really lived, are the moments when you have done things in a spirit of love. ~ Henry Drummond
 
I share with you a part of our story that seems a bit black and white. When I think about the hand of our creator being the larger part of our story, I now see it in 3D and in technicolour. I as not gobsmacked, I was God-smacked.

 

“To meet someone. And be met. To be chosen. To choose.To love. To be loved. This is everything.” — Mark Groves

The horrific discovery in Kamloops this past week is so sad. And we are all part of this story. 
 
Those who are part of mankind and feel they can control the world with mean-spirited and evil actions are a stain on the this big blue marble, formed with love for us.
 
When everything is uncertain, everything that is important becomes clear. -Dr. Caroline Leaf
 
If you had to explain to a newborn what it means to be a human being living on Earth in the 21st century, what would you say? Visual artist Oliver Jeffers put his answer in a letter to his son, sharing pearls of wisdom on the existence and the diversity of life. He offers observations of the "beautiful, fragile drama of human civilization." In this poetic talk paired with his original illustrations and animations.

 

 
Every soul is beautiful and precious; is worthy of dignity and respect and deserving of peace, joy and love. ~Bryant Mc Gill

 

Take a moment and join us in the Gardens of Hope. Thank you to Katherine MacLaine for capturing this special moment in time and sharing it with us. 

 

 
Today, while writing with headphones on, I had the joy of being inspired by Brahms & Gernshiem: Piano Quartets by Mianani Klavierquartett. Sample Listen Here.

 

Wishing everyone a wonderful week and may joy be more than an acquaintance. 

With love from Prince Edward Island, 
Bruce + Millie

 

ps. Your Morning Smile

 

Several women appeared in court, each accusing the others of causing the trouble that they were having in the apartment building where they all lived.
The judge, with Solomon-like wisdom decreed, "Okay, I'm ready to hear the evidence...I'll hear the oldest first."
The case was dismissed for lack of testimony.
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Comments

Judi Illingworth - June 5, 2021

Happy Anniversary to you and Shirley. Take some time today for a walk down Memory Lane.
Many many kite great times together.

Lila Younker - June 5, 2021

Happy 35th Wedding Anniversary to both of you.
Love the story & The Morning Smile!!

Zoe Myers - June 5, 2021

Congratulations on 35 years of marriage, and thank you for the wonderful story of how you met. This entire post was full of gems.

Kathy Dickson - June 5, 2021

What a beautiful read this morning, with my tea of course! Congratulations to you both in your 35th Bruce!

JM - June 5, 2021

Sending you lots of hugs on your anniversary! I loved your story and may you have many more years of love together.

Suzi - June 5, 2021

I’m in a hurry, and need to dash. I’ll come back tonight to slow down and enjoy your blog, but first to wish you and your beloved a beautiful anniversary. Loved your gobsmacked word, and your acknowledgement of God being in the details! Isn’t HE beautifully amazing! A beautiful wish for you two, fortunate people! Hugs! Suzi

Sharon K - June 5, 2021

A very Happy 35th anniversary to you and your lovely wife. A love at first sight if ever there was. I had the priviledge of meeting an amazing lady on a river cruise two years ago in Europe. Her husband introduced us at dinner saying she was one of the first British ladies to race mini coopers back in the day. What great stories she had to tell.

Keith Brooks - June 5, 2021

Bruce – congratulations on 35 years of marriage. Ours was several weeks ago and it seems like it was just yesterday (some days). To be loved is an amazing gift from one to another and to love is to seek the best for the other. Not always easy, but possible.
It is sad to learn of tragedies such as occurred at Kamloops, and likely other schools and places around the world. Such tragedies at their root, I suspect is a lack of love, a true love of self that seeks the best for others because that is in fact what gives us our best outcome. We don’t always have the best examples of such love in our lives and that is a sadness that repeats itself with tragic consequences. We can pray to be better ourselves so that whoever we touch in our lives may have a better life themselves.
We so miss the island and a visit to see relatives and the Preserve company, a favourite destination.

Cynthia - June 5, 2021

Well, I for one, am so happy you lifted her up under her arms.What a wonderful story Bruce.
Happy Anniversary Bruce and Shirley!!! My God grant you many more years.

Love Bryant’s quote. Yes.Every soul.
I haven’t been able to watch the news. I am deeply grieved for Kamloops. Children. God help us and watch over all of us. We are your children. Frail. Broken. Seeking healing as we hang on to each other while walking along the worn path.

May we look for a smile. Take time to listen. Be thankful. For trees.Kindness and maybe a nap.
Love your Blog Bruce. Thank you.
Much love,
Cynthia

Jen C - June 5, 2021

Beautiful memory! Happy Anniversary!

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