Landing in Edmonton

Hello everyone,
Well, we landed in Edmonton on Thursday and I must admit, I did not expect the travel to take as much out of me as it has. I am not complaining but it seems you just get home do the laundry and pack again. We are now out here for the week though so it will now also become a vacation. We are going to take the train from Edmonton to Vancouver on Monday and go through the Jasper and the Rockies and I am really looking forward to this.
By the time we finish on Saturday it will be exactly half way through the walks. Many people have asked us how much we have raised and I am EXTREMELY PROUD TO SAY THAT THE CENTURIAN TEAM HAS RAISED $35,867.61 in our four walks. I am just so proud of the people on my team, everyone who has supported us. Again, I like to say we are a team of "nobodies" but we are doing something.
I read my horoscope on the plane today and here is what it said (I never read horoscopes however) " Great day to make travel plans, or explore opportunities in publishing, the media, education, medicine and the law. You're excited about learning something new. You're stoked by any usual experience today because you want to live outside the box (preferably in the penthouse)" Timing is everything.
We spent Friday walking around West Edmonton Mall. Quite the spot...it has a hockey rink where the Oilers practice, and huge amusement park with two full size roller coasters, a pirate show, a full water park and a sea lion show. In addition to this 800 stores, 27 theaters and 100 restaurants.
After this leisurely stroll (?) we went to register for the walk. We met four ladies from the Yukon. Last year they walked in Vancouver and they are walking in Edmonton this year. The reason why they have changed cities is because when you live in the Yukon you go either to Vancouver or Edmonton for treatment. Imagine, going through this stressful situation and either living in a city over two hours by plane and away from your family and support system or having to "commute" this distance while going through treatment. It really puts in perspective how lucky we are when you live in a major city. I remember going downtown everyday with my Dad for his treatments at Princess Margaret and complaining about the traffic. Seems pretty small now.
On the way back from registration we took the LRT to the hotel. We were not sure where we were going so we asked a nice young guy to help us. He was going the same way so we walked up to the platform with him and waited for the train. We struck up a conversation with him and it turns out he lived in Toronto for a short period of time but his job has taken him to Edmonton. You would assume that it was in the energy sector right? Nope...I am standing on the platform talking to a policy advisor for the NDP PARTY!!! Here I am in Steven Harper country, been known to be a little bit of a conservatist myself and here I am talking politics with an NDP'er. How many could there be out here? 10? 13? 18? What are the chances? I told him I could not be seen talking to him. Anyway I joke with him..."tough job"...he had a very good sense of humour and he said that he "might as well be working for the Devil himself"...I didn't argue. Good luck in the next election Amir...and we still remember "Rae Days" in Ontario.
With love and thanks,
M.J.
With love and thanks,