What a "perfect" Sunday!

From one high to another. Wow. This is a lot for me to experience two days in a row.
v
v
After having a scant 4 hours of sleep, I woke up and turned the TV on. I had it tuned to an all-news TO station which was reporting on the hockey game while keeping tabs (ha, bar joke) on two bars in TO as well as bars all across the country – which had to have opened even way before our 6 a.m.!
v
v
It was such a huge relief that the Canadians scored the first goal in the first period. Not that I could see what was happening, as the station uses a PIP format. Naturally, the solo insurance goals in the second and third period made me a titch less apprehensive about Sweden matching and overtaking us. I thought it entirely fitting that the Gold game was played between the current World champions and the defending Olympic champions. There's a symmetry to that.
v
v
While keeping an eye on the TV, I managed to feed and clothe myself. Luckily my pickup wasn't until 9:25. What joy that the Canadians had just won a couple of minutes earlier before the driver knocked on my door. Hey, it was a driver I haven't seen in years (though she was the one to tell me that). She used to attend the church ages ago so she kept asking questions about what's been happening. Oy, where do I start? Lots of great stuff after the early growing pains.
v
v
When I finally got to church, naturally we all had huge smiles on our faces. As the 9 a.m. Service was ending, I heard O Canada being belted out. Oooooh. Something else to look forward to aside from my fave hymn.
v
v
I was surprised to see Rev. Jo in vestments with no sign of Brent. The sermon was really easy to follow. Well, as she explained it, it's just math. She spoke about how we or people in our lives can range between 1 (people we rarely interact with perhaps, like a mentor) to 5 (people who may be helpless or depend on us for quite a lot). And how important it is to strike a balance so that we're not totally focused on the people who take from us without setting aside time to recharge our batteries in the presence of those who can help us, allowing us to honour our relationship with ourselves. Yeah, sorry about the simple explanation. The other beautiful thing was that the first reading was the Love passage from 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a ("Love is patient; love is kind....").
v
v
I was thrilled (though possibly he was less than, as he still hasn't been put on his husband's special clergy spouse visa status) when Maurice slid ever so smoothly into the pew behind me to sit with church-John. Also, before the service began, I managed to clear up a misconception I feared church-John might be thinking less of me for – but it was all good. Huge sigh of relief. As I spoke about needing to move again (with a sigh of another kind), he offered to give me his strong banker boxes that I can even keep. I asked him if he'd like to deliver them one day soon and, after he takes me food shopping, I can serve him that grilled chicken and shrimp I so want to make on my indoor BBQ. Though he's currently tied up with a visitor, he'll keep it in mind.
v
v
The three of us went up together for Anointing with the serene deacon who'd been in charge of Christmas Day dinner. And Ashley joined the three of us for Communion when we were served by a woman stationed in front of the altar wearing a "CANADA" hockey jersey. Luckily, I'd had the chance to belt out most of my fave hymn by that point. Absolute yay! The service ended with the Crucifer and two candle-bearers waiting at the left side of the altar steps as the music director began to play O Canada. Too bad I couldn't see it on the screen. The restrictive gendered words were changed to something I myself use (i/o of "in all our sons command", we sang "in all of us command" ... 'cuz there's no reason to even suggest that women aren't as patriotic as men). The only awkwardness for me is that I couldn't remember the French words except for "fleurons glorieux" (as the languages are alternated). It doesn't make thematic or logical sense, but it's a way to make the anthem accessible in both official languages.
v
v
After the service, I managed to talk to the music director and she was very pleased with the way the congregation had reacted to my fave hymn ("it rocked"); she said she'll schedule it more often. Oh, joy on an ecstatic loop. My only regret is that I should have contacted Ashley regarding staying for the Trans meeting today. It turned out she was returning for the Drumming workshop scheduled for 2:30 so, even though I would have had to hang around (well, I could have possibly eavesdropped on the drumming), I would have had a ride home. OTOH, I was totally wiped out from happiness (and residual yay-ness from last night), so it's just as well that I got in early.
v
v
I had the closing ceremonies on TV though I wasn't really paying attention as I had lunch. Then I kept the TV on as they replayed the Gold-winning game. And, then, totally worn out, I had a much-needed nap. When I woke up, I watched tonight's epi of Castle. Huh. I'm going to have to rewatch tomorrow to get the connection. So far I haven't had any dinner yet, so I think I'd better get some food in me ... and all my canned provisions into the cupboards before tomorrow morning. I've gone from last night's sublime to this morning's triumphant and am now hovering at mundane. But that's okay. I need the rest!!!
v