Vancouver Peace Summit

Me, just as I left early this morning for the Peace Summit in Vancouver. You guessed it–no cameras in the Orpheum Theatre. Boo-hoo. Just a boring picture of me pre-summit.
I saw my two favorite monks in the world: His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Mattieu Ricard. Both were as charming and wonderful in person as I believed them to be.
I had the best seat! 3rd row, centre, Orchestra–I was 20 feet from the Dalai Lama.
The Dalai Lama is so used to being a public figure that he appears to be relaxed on stage. He listens, (daydreams only a little tiny bit which is amazing–he is ready to answer any question posed to him), adjusts Mattieu Ricard’s robe when it slips off his shoulder, rummages in his maroon satchel for various items he needs throughout the talk: cough candy for a fellow panelist, visor for the bright lights, tissue to mop his brow. He sits barefoot and cross-legged–charming, wise and true. One can’t help but fall in love with him! And Mattieu Ricard–wise and eloquent–yes, in love with him too.
Eckhart Tolle spoke well, and Sir Ken Robinson and Murray Gell-Mann ( Nobel Prize physics 1969) and Mairead Maguire (Nobel Laureate 1976–N. Ireland relations).
I so envied Martha Piper (former UBC president) as she got to mediate one of the talks with the Dalai Lama (and sat right beside him).
Coming home from the summit it poured rain. My Fluvoggs were soaked! I got so chilled–I couldn’t live in Vancouver in the fall and winter–the rain is too cold!
Rained too hard for me to attempt Robson Street shopping but went to Pacific Centre and picked up this and that for my girls.
Oh, and good news, Hotel Vancouver found a room for us tonight so we needn’t switch to the Wall Center after all.  I am relaxing at the Fairmont as I type this. I’ll be home tomorrow evening. XOXO–to all my little girls.