Friday the 26th

We were up early and set about getting the car packed. That has come to be

Barb's specialty and she does it really well as I have said before.

While she was doing this I went over to have a conversation with our host

for the previous evening. This is a whole story in itself. Andre and I

shared ideas on what I was involved with and he told me some of his story.

I told him that I would be coming back and talking more with him - perhaps

with a TV camera. He is not shy either. He is a great Canadian success

story. Having left Montreal when Levesque came to power, moved to Calgary

and he was involved with a number of construction projects throughout

Canada and many other parts of the world including Saudi Arabia. We talked

about many issues and his clarity and his genuineness makes him a hero in

my eyes. I asked him about home. Home to Andre is where the soil is. I

asked him about paying taxes. If you don't pay taxes how are your children

going to get educated? And where will you get your medical assistance?

The problem to-day is finding any one who cares about the work they are

doing. Its too easy to get welfare. Andre told me of stories when he

visited First Nations and he danced their Spirit Dance ( he has it on film

for us to see). He told me how he learned to fly a plane - he has had

several, and although he does not have a license he is an excellent flyer.

He also only flies with a proper pilot on board. Just as we were talking,

one of his employees drove by in an electric car. He said he built it

himself. He took an old golf-cart and restructured it to service his

motel. (he owns another motel down the highway as well). He goes south for

the winter and has a winter home in Fort Lauderdale. His son, is a

successful businessman with over eighty employees. We continued our

conversation as I took Andre over to meet Barbara and our conversation

continued on for the greater part of the morning. As I introduced them,

Barbara had been engaged in a conversation with one of our neighbours. I

did not hear the discussion, but I am quite certain it was about the fact

that the fellow had left his engine on for over thirty five minutes putting

poisonous fumes in our faces. Barbara, in her gentle way was suggesting

that he might consider other people when doing this. The response was that

he was manifesting his freedom as a Canadian. This is where Andre and I

joined the conversation. Not hearing the conversation, but pretty

comfortable in knowing what was happening I said " You are both right.

And I think each of you should look at what the other is saying and get on

with life." Of course I supported Barbara's point of view as the

manifestation of freedom without acknowledging the responsibilities

attached is one of the major problems in the world to-day. In fact I would

go further and say that if education could make the distinctions and

facilitate the learning of that distinction, we would not be having the

problems we have in the world to-day - and I would be out of a job. (Even

if my job doesn't pay it is a job that needs to be done.) After

introducing Barbara to Andre the conversation continued. And finally we

had to pull ourselves away. We told him we would be back, but had to get

some mileage under our wheels.

Andre suggested that we might like to see Jasper and we rerouted ourselves

through Saskatoon instead of Calgary. I did not check my notes as I wanted

to visit some people in Calgary, and I thought they were in Edmonton. I

had an empty feeling in my stomach as I thought I had made a big

"pathfinder blunder".

Well the day did not turn out that way at all. Yes we did end up in

Saskatoon, but the trip to get us there was quite incredible.

Our first stop for gas got us in a conversation with Cary Kreiser who owns

a local gas station. He also complained about how difficult it is to find

people willing to work. He also mentioned to me that the First Nations

people are buying up the land that Canada took from them. And they are

paying 10 X the assessed value!! I said that I thought that showed

commitment and that it seemed to be reasonable if they were willing to do

it. Cary's point of view, which I came to share was the fact that the

First Nations people buy up property, and then claim their special status

on the land which negatively affects all their neighbours. I was not to

clear on how this worked but it related to the First Nations rights to kill

animals. Apparently the Elders support this behaviour. I did not get too

involved in the specifics, but it sounds to me that the First Nations

people after being treated so badly by Canada are exacting revenge through

their interpretation of their special status. I think both sides in this

issue have to look to larger issues as to how we are going to continue in

the future, and not continue to beat each other up over past injustices.

I left, a little wiser, but a little sadder.

Driving along I noticed this incredible building on the horizon. It looked

rather special as it gave the impression of majesty and humility at the

same time so we took a little detour to check it out. Passing through

the town of Lumsden we noticed a solar driven water pump. I stopped for a

picture, and got into a conversation with the owner, a Mr. Ken Kellns. He

is very knowledgeable about these systems, and other energy efficient

systems. We talked for a while. He sells his equipment to African

countries, through CIDA, but does not get the educational back-up necessary

in order to make this technology function properly in these other

countries. One of the main problems he identifies is our general lack of

knowledge of how a battery works. I plead guilty. We are going to stay in

touch and see how we can make these obstacles historic in nature and not

our reality. Hopefully some government officials will see this writing and

try to understand for themselves: How does a battery work. When we

understand this better, we then will understand the process of recharging

batteries and how to maintain them effectively for long term use. We

assured Ken we would be back to him and asked him to follow our story on

the Internet.

We continued on our little side excursion to this building we had seen from

the highway. St. Michael's Retreat. This is a retreat run by some

Franciscan Monks. We went in and had a conversation with Friar Lucien and

told him of our work. He said he would share it with others. There was a

conference at the center this day and Barb and I decided to hang out in the

building for a time. I then went over to a table of people that were

having lunch and asked to be introduced to the hosts for the conference.

Apparently four schools from Regina were having a "retreat". A day of

quiet reflection. I talked with two of the Principals from the schools and

gave them my card and told them of our website which they may be interested

in. Alice, one of the Principals, offered Barbara and I lunch. After

lunch I went to Alice and offered her a story if it was appropriate. She

indicated that she would give me a high sign if she felt it would be so. I

think she thought that Barb and I were going to hang out there longer. I

thought I might share my Sparrow story with them. We stayed for lunch and

had a short conversation with another teacher - Ken. In talking with Ken,

he mentioned some of the negative fallout they experience in the media

when they have this kind of a day. We discussed that such a day had to be

part of their negotiations with the school Boards. I observed that such

negotiations were probably put in the wrong context. That because their

schools were religious in nature, they respected the value of

contemplation, and it was a regular part of their daily routine. The

necessity of negotiating this as part of the Union contract could best be

looked at as a way of informing the Boards of the value of contemplation as

a teaching technique of positive human behaviour. Ken seemed to like my

take on it and he asked for my card in order that he may follow up in the

future. Unfortunately I did not remember their last names, and they did not

have their cards with them, but I feel quite certain we will stay in touch.

I went out to the car to get a copy of The Last One to leave as a present

for them to share with each others schools. Their program began and Barb

and I headed off on our travels.

As we left town we were drawn to the local newspaper: The New Waterfront

Press. We went in for a very short visit with the editor Jacqueline

Chouinard. We mentioned our home page and even though there was nothing in

her paper to indicate involvement with the Internet, she mentioned her

husband keeps track of information through that medium. Possibly they will

get the conversation going.

The rest of the trip to Saskatoon was almost uneventful. I ran into a

group of 10 students who had just been at a "leadership" conference. I

mentioned our work and our site to one of the parents and she said she

would mention to the teachers. We also noted that the trucks were no

longer carrying large loads of timber. They were now carrying large loads

of wheat. As we passed Davidson, we took a photo of the Large Kettle

there, and In Indian head, we took a picture of, guess what? an Indian

Head. It was here I think I lost my camera!. I later reported it to the

police suggesting that I was more interested in the film than the camera.

Hopefully the film will be found.

We arrived in Saskatoon around 4:40 and tried to get my Internet mail.

Saskatel helpful - no luck. Library - helpful - no luck.

Barb was to meet me at seven and I had an hour to wander around. I first

went to buy some film for my camera and was served by a very beautiful

young lady Brenda. (Black's/ Eaton Center) She said I looked rather

frazzled. I said she looked rather beautiful. Since I did not have my

camera with me, I asked her to send me a picture of her and I would put it

up on the net attached to this story. We'll see.

I then went into the Sony store just to look at the digital equipment

available. The store manager asked if he could help me, but I assured him

I was not a customer, only a browser. Brad was very helpful, and as we

chatted I noticed that I had just purchased a Sony Camera. I hope Kent

Anthony is happy. Sony has been a big supporter of my work for the past

six years, but since the take-over, their support has dwindled.

Notwithstanding that, and because of my appreciation of their past support

I felt real good about spending money on this camera. I have been putting

it off for about two years since I was waiting for one to be given to me

so I could do this work. Unfortunately one is not forthcoming and I really

felt the need this morning to have a camera.

This need is now satisfied. Where is Mitch Annabeli when I need him?

Just a personal joke. Mitch was the Corporate Relations VP at Sony when I

first started this project in 1990 and he was extremely helpful until he

retired. It has not been the same since he left although I have tried

harder.

Anyway, I did a short interview with Brad on my new camera, and hit the

road. Barb had a good conversation with Brad, and they too will be working

together in the future.

I now have my needed video camera.

What a great day!.