We’ll be Friends Forever, won’t we, Pooh?’ asked Piglet. Even longer,’ Pooh answered.

A. A. Milne,

In travelling along on the Gypsy Wagon Journey – ( this is what we call our trip that we are travelling for a year) we spent the month of August visiting dear friends and family. We shared our new Dodoland garment designs to make it a Fantasy vacation and hoping our visit would be giving a vacation to those that even could not have a vacation to help all the worries go away. Brand happiness.

In looking at some reflections that Steve Job had on the last days of his life we agreed you can tell the same time on an inexpensive watch or expensive one and get to the same destination with an expensive or inexpensive car. He also reflected ohought n his that those good friends and those you love are the most precious of all. Before we left we visited some of our closest friend the Williams in Victoria (50 years) and reflected on how now the children we met as babies were now young men and women. 40 years had made them become amazing world enhancers. Later on the journey saw their son Rainbow and his family. We twisted his arm to model our Magical Earth jacket. I modelled in Victoria amongst Eve and Evans antiques.

One of our first stops was at our neice’s Floras apartment in Kelowna.What a beautiful apartment and delicious food she made for us. Friends Frances and Catherine visited for muffins brunch and we worked with 27 years ago Guadalajara .In Osoyoos at the end of the month we saw Brigitta and also Wallace who we also worked with in Guadalajara ages ago. We laughed like we just visited yesterday. Time does strange things when you visit forever friends – you can meet them 5 or ten years later and it seems like you saw each other yesterday.

One of Dale was a the Hudson Bay in Edmonton in the 60’s and then a short stint as a Policeman .What a treat hooking up with his buddy from this time Don Goddard and his wife Gayle and visiting them in their garden with there three dogs. The stories went deep into the night.

And then there was buddies from school like Brian Cartmell who Dale knew in Grade 6 . Stories were decades old but drew a lot of laughter. We were please to be able to share via the internet one of the latest projects .. an animation of Star Galaxy for the World .. show in the Dodoland website.. the miracles of today.

Also exciting to see family. Dale come from a family of 150 cousins – so special to see some he knew growing up .. Gwen and Lavern who is like a brother. Terry and Kermit and family and Melda who were so welcoming . One photo is Terry and her daugher. We saw many sunrises and sunsets and shared old stories and catch up stories on what has been going on. The sun will always come up on our friendships and never set.

And cousin Stella’s what a fun time on her green green yard and garden . She helps a Rescue Farm for horse and 18 horses are on her back 40 . We had a fun making Fairy forests day with her grandchildren. Not only remembering but building memories… we celebrated our 37 anniversary. So grateful to have these creative experiences.

Food seems to be a wonderful way to share the moments of friendships. We seemed to share food with EVERYONE. Our niece Holly made an amazing meal even after working around the clock at the airport to get evacuees of the fire out of Kelowna and firemen in. A special meeting was with a student who lived with us for three years — Joseph and his new wife Ayu. Somehow we dodged the traffic into Banff to meet at a Greek Restaurant for lunch. Food seems to be a wonderful way to share the moments of friendships. We also met Eric a special antique friends that Dale had also known maaanny years. We celebrated his 70th birthday.

Last but not least at the end of our trip we were playing and singing Jimmy Buffets music – beach bum soft rock .. as we headed to the beach town of Osoyoos. Getting in the mood so to speak.

That night when we found out he had passed away that day it was beyond a coincidence. What a beautiful man who was friends with so many ..we didnt know him personally but felt we know him. I saw the tribunes streaming in on Facebook.. so much a part of people lives.. making people forget there worries and smile. Yes he lived life to the fullest and a great inspiration. he lived in peace and is now resting in peace.

We send our love to Jimmy .. what joy have brought to many. Brand happiness like Dodoland.

We send our deepest gratitude.. thanks you .. thank you .. for those that we have been able to see .. we will be FRIENDS FOREVER ,,LONGER.. seems right on on this month of the Gypsy Wagon journey. Take care all … Della