Category Archives: Random Thoughts

Random thoughts, musings, orphan ideas needing a home, and other writings that just didn’t want to fit into any other category

For Auld Lang Syne

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Hi Folks: This is a re-post of one from six years ago. Unfortunately Google+ no longer exists, but we’ve left the link as it’s the only one we have to the original reference. May 2020 bring you all that you intend!!

Hugs,
M&M
_____

Hi Folks:

Many have heard at least the beginnings of the song ‘For Auld Lang Syne’, but not as many are familiar with the words or their meaning. We came across this ‘wee translation’ from Dolidh Young on Google+ and wanted to share it with you. Her post is here: https://plus.google.com/+DolidhYoung/posts/HuugfJV5sYX Continue Reading →

The Reindeer Take Victoria… Again!!

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Mrs. Claus, Twinkles and Krinkles at Mayfair Mall
Mrs. Claus, Twinkles and Krinkles at Mayfair Mall

Hi Folks:

Well, as the song says, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year…” And while there are many reasons to celebrate the Holiday Season, the transition from shorter days to longer and all that accompanies that, the truth is that this can also be a stressful time of year for many people. People get caught up in the too-short days, the not-enough time, and the hustle and bustle that’s being pushed upon them from all sides. And when they get pushed around too much, sometimes something very sad happens… They lose their smile somewhere along the way. 😪

Continue Reading →

Happy Holidays!!

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Whether you celebrate Christmas or Festivus, Solstice or Saturnalia, the arrival of Sinterklaas or Grandfather Frost, Hanukkah, Mawlid Un Nabi, Yalda, Pancha Ganapati, Bodhi Day, Kwanzaa or something entirely personal, we send you love. Create an amazing 2020!!

Hugs,
M&M

It’s Our Birthday!

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Botanical Beach

Botanical Beach (image by Marcia)

Hi Folks:

Well, it’s now been 10 (yes, ten!) years since our blog took its first breath, and we currently have 602 blog posts and 146 pages on our site. The posts cover poetry, photography, our hugging adventures (88 countries and counting!) and various other musings; our pages include some of our stories and free Adventures of Rainbow Mouse colouring pages to download and enjoy. We’ve shared some wonderful adventures with you through these and are looking forward to sharing more in the future! This blog is our gift to you, our readers, and we very much appreciate having you here with us.

Remember to hug someone you love today. Or a stranger. Or, preferably, both! 🙅‍♀️🙅‍♂️

M&M

P.S. The image above is a composite made from a sequence of 23 images Marcia made with her cell phone. Look for an upcoming blog post on image stacking in the (hopefully not too distant) future!

Happy Hallowe’en!!

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Halloween YodaNever before have we seen a lighted, inflatable Yoda holding a Boo! bucket (at Bridgeman’s West Coast Eatery, in Port Renfrew, BC). Our lives are now complete. 🎃

Hugs,
M&M

P.S. In years past we’ve shared different pumpkin recipes for post-Hallowe’en enjoyment. We sadly don’t have any new recipes to add right now, but you can find our existing pumpkin-related posts here.

More Firsts…

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Hi Folks:

This is our 10th year of hugging Victoria residents and tourists alike, and even though October’s weather has become a little drizzly, this has been our busiest year ever! We’ve had so many amazing moments during our hugging sessions – many already recorded in various posts, but we still have new ones all the time. Thought we should gather a few together and share them with you: Continue Reading →

Free Hugs Poem

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Hi Folks:

A wonderful gift from our friend Glennis. We are both awed and honoured!

Free Hugs
_________

Free hugs…
by the edge of the Harbour
on a Summery Sunday.
Open arms
that have
crossed oceans and continents.

Arms that…
have cradled infants,
fought wars,
prayed
and driven cars.

Arms that…
have held ice cream cones,
have stolen
and given
and written letters of love.

Arms that…
are strong,
tanned…
frail arms.

Arms that…
swim in warm lakes,
held books,
planted crops
and picked flowers.

Arms that…
have loved,
felt hate,
rested
and toiled.

Arms reaching out
for a free hug
by the edge of the Harbour.

Free hugs…
imprinted on the soul,
carried home
to
every corner of the world.

How beautiful.

Glennis Taylor, 2019

Hugs back!!
M&M

Turnabout is Fair Play

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Hi Folks:

When we were out hugging for CarFree YYJ, a young woman named Céline saw us standing there with our posters as she passed by. Last Saturday when we were out at our usual location by the Homecoming Memorial, we were lucky enough to run into her again, and she stopped to share a hug with us! And… she mentioned that she and her friend were going to be offering Free Hugs the next day!! How could we refuse such an offer? Of course, we couldn’t. And didn’t. 🙂

Linda, Marcia and Céline

We didn’t want to monopolize their time (or deprive others of their hugging opportunities) but we did have a couple of minutes to chat with them and their friend Alan. As with us they were originally uncertain, and, as with us, those feelings quickly gave way to a range of emotions: that people would thank them for what they were offering, that they would feel appreciation, joy, and love. We live in a society where something as simple as human touch is denied to so many. We did warn them, though – offering Free Hugs can become addictive!

Many thanks to Céline and Linda and Alan for sharing a little bit of their world with us, and for making our world a little better place.

Grouphug!!

M&M

It’s Tomorrow!!

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Hi Folks:

As we’re sure you’re all aware, tomorrow is International Free Hugs Day! Grab your markers, find a piece of cardboard and go out and hug someone!! As for us, we’ll be at our usual spot at the Homecoming Memorial by Ship Point tomorrow afternoon at some point. If you’re in the neighbourhood, stop by for a hug!

Hugs,
M&M

10 Years of Hugging

10 Years of Hugging

Happy Father’s Day!!

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Humans of New York

To all of the fathers out there, to all of the dads, and to all of the mothers, uncles, aunts, Big Brothers, brothers, sisters, friends… and others who fulfill that role: Thank you.

Hugs,
M&M