Lights, south of the border

I'm proud of this. It's a good summary of a fun day.

This little light of mine...

I have a New Idea. But it's too early to talk about it in detail here. Let's just say that it brings together my past, my present and my future into one project. Or, at least that's what I think tonight. I could change my mind by morning.

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One thing I do know and can share is that I truly believe I have the best job in Canada. And maybe in the US too. We launched Project Porchlight in Vermont this past week and, after kicking off the BC campaign at Mile 0 of the Alaska Highway in BC a week before, I can honestly say that there is universal truth. And here it is: People want to do stuff. They want to be part of something. They want to Believe again. And this little light bulb idea I had gives them that. I'm really proud of that.

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And another thing I now know: I will be living in the US within 2 years. I can feel it. Over the past 18 months I've traveled extensively, but I have never had such a profound experience of "I must live here" as I did this past week in Burlington, Vermont. Yep, Burlington. What occurred to me while there, and that sums up my feelings is that it's "PEI, all grown up." I love my home province dearly, but I don't think I could live there year round. It's still a little too isolated, to insecure, wanting to be progressive but still afraid to be. Too, well, how I've been a lot of my life. Burlington has a quiet, simple, progressive confidence that impresses me ... That I aspire to. That I am increasingly feeling in myself. I'm never going to be a big city guy. But I want to live in a small city that welcomes big thinkers.

The universal reaction I get to this "gotta live in Burlington" feeling is, "yeah, but it's the US."

Honestly, I think Burlington is more Canadian than a lot of Canada, including PEI. And CBC TV is among local channels. Montreal is 60 min north on I89. The cabin is 2 hours closer via Maine. Bye-bye Renous.

And, the US has hit rock bottom. Eight years of Bush and there's nowhere to go but up. Maybe it's time to buy some stock in America. I have a feeling things will be different in a year or two. They have to be. And Americans really seem to want it to be. Especially in Vermont.

The final sign that I should move my family to Vermont came when I learned about Burlington's mayor. People say he's from a new "third" party called the Progressives. I immediately thought, "My God, now I know where the P went when the Conservatives cut it in Canada ... "

I gotta move there ...

I got sunshine on a cloudy day

Sometimes I get serious here. So I'll spare you the mouse update except to say that the thing that was clogging the drain in the wash basin this weekend wasn't lint.

As I write I'm listening to Ideas on CBC Radio. Tonight's program features Ray Kurzweil, an inventor and futurist being called "the rightful heir to Thomas Edison." So of course my ears perked up. I do a lot of Edison bashing.

What got my attention was his confident assertion that solar power will supply all of humanity's energy needs in 20 years. It's the first time in months I've heard a positive perspective on the future. I'd like to have a more positive view of the future.

Occasionally when I speak to groups about Porchlight I share an anecdote about a conversation I had with Jasper one night as I was tucking him in to bed. He asked me why I spent so much time talking to people about light bulbs. It was late and I was tired, and I remember snapping back something like, "I'm trying to save the planet."

I don't remember how he reacted. But it was a kind of slap in my own face, a reminder that I was trying to do something meaningful. And so when I reflect on this during events or in media interviews, I can say that even if changing bulbs seems insignificant, I know that in 20 years when my kids ask me "What did You do to change things, Dad?" I will have an answer. I tried.

Now tonight I'm thinking that the question might be, "Dad, why were you so worried?"

And we'd have a good laugh about the bulbs. And open another cold one in the clean, cool woods of central PEI. Safe.

Royal Blue

Here's a tip:

Never try to take an organic wild blueberry spelt crust pie home on your electric bike. First of all, it's not worth the $9. And chances are the young woman in tie-dye with dreds behind the counter will give you a used grocery bag with holes (when you ask sheepishly for that unholy item to take home your righteous tart).

I'm enjoying my bread-free journey to a healthier me, but there are some things that will never change: blueberry is unkind to library books lulu lemon sweats. And bikes and pies don't mix.