I think we all need to take a second and pause. Think of those we love. Our mothers, our fathers, our sisters, our brothers, our best friends, those friends that challenge us, or push us. The people that smile at you on the street. The people that stand so that others can sit. All those that believe in unnecessary kindness (although kindness is necessary). The people that light up our lives and our hearts.

You are all beautiful.
You are all unique.
I love you all.

All friendships are important. Big or small, passing or long lasting, romantic or platonic, passionate or pleasant. And they can be all of those things or none of those things.

I write this in reflection of how lucky I am to have found all of those things in so many special individuals. I have made a conscious effort to tell people in my life how much they mean to me. It's a new thing I'm trying out.

This isn't a well-written blurb. It's a hodge-podge of my thoughts.

But thank you forever friends. You'll always be in my heart, my mind and my soul. I'm so blessed to have found you. —You are my forever friend

I guess you were so dreamy, that after seeing you pass me by in the Young Street Superstore parking lot as I was packing my car with groceries readying myself for the storm, you made your second appearance in my dream last night. As the ice, wind, and snow blew outside, I had a vivid dream that you were kind, funny, somewhat dorky at heart, and right by my side. —Now Awake and Dreaming

I ask if you want them packed in a certain way, you tell me and I do it. Or I pack as if I have to carry them across town in a bus. A small thing, but most of you really appreciate it and tell me so: thanks! Mine is not a glamorous job, or particularly well-paid, but enough of you voice your appreciation to give me some small sense of "job well-done" that I can handle to everyday monotony. Thank you to all of those that tell me "way to go.” —Double-bagger of heavy stuff

Please teachers don't cave. I know that you have some members of the public beating up on you but don't give in.

Go back look at the Freeman report and review the section on inclusion in the educational system. How much of the issues in that report were dealt with? Keep standing up for yourself and don't let the government push you around. If they legislate you back to work then get a record of every MLA who voted yes to it.

Focus on two issues to fix—inclusion issues relating to disabled students and administrative burden involving data entry. Focus on getting a fair compensation settlement such as three quarters percent to one percent a year and a different more sustainable long service award. If they attack you on the long service award and wages now then they'll also be coming after your retirement health benefits after they've chopped the other two. —Person supporting the teachers

I have this awful ability to read into everything since meeting you. Man, the most mundane of things can feel so big sometimes. It's so bleak out here and knowing you was not. I guess it's because everything feels more real in the summer. I really do hope I'll see you again. —Yikes