Dear Editor,
I have been overwhelmed at the beautiful heart of our community for a few days now but did not know how to express it. Everything sounds so corny. OSSIA choir roamed the streets and shops of downtown on Friday joining many others in Random Acts Of Kindness Day. We invaded restaurants, shops and peoples' comfort zones singing songs, giving out chocolates and goodwill. Some people on the street took a few moments to warm up to the idea of being treated with respect and love, perhaps to being noticed at all. It was not exactly random, in fact nicely organized, but the results were worth it. The following day, I went to the market where it took over an hour to get out because so many of my friends/vendors were asking about my daughter who has been very ill, and really listened to me. A familiar group gathered at The River Cafe as we do each Saturday to savor our last chance to enjoy the warm embrace of Karen's cluttered, exquisite home away from home. Karen is moving on, not going away, and I for one will follow her. I made so many friends at those crowded ,tiny tables. I will miss this special place , but will keep the friends. In the evening, we had the pleasure of hearing Kelda perform her songs of hope and longing , a tribute in music and stories to all the heroes of the wars, the men, the women ,the children who endured with courage and good spirits during dark times. Bethany on piano, May singing harmony and Anne reading her collected stories, all in period dress. The audience in St Andrew's church in Southampton nodded or sang along to the familiar tunes, tears rolling down their remembering cheeks and then shared their stories over tea and cookies afterwards in the classic church basement.
This morning I discovered my Facebook awash with the miraculous fish frenzy, from the generous fisherman to Francesca and the many volunteers who saved thousands of pounds of whitefish from being dumped, and managed to give it all away free to the community.
I have said it before, but here I go again. We moved to Owen Sound as a random act of retirement and discovered we had won the lottery.
Denise Freeman,
