The preparations continue

Conveniently, my lawyer's office and the Elections Canada Returning Office are on the same floor of the same building.  So today I revised my will and voted.

One of the things that I was concerned about with the timing of my Camino was voting in the federal election.  The advance polls are on Thanksgiving Weekend (in Canada, that's the second Monday of October -- my American friends would consider it Columbus Day), and I knew I couldn't vote then, but I discovered that if you're a registered voter, you can vote at the Returning Office.  So after I I gave the lawyer the details of my estate (10% parish, 20% daughter, 70% partner, a couple of specific bequests, not that hard nor that much!) I voted.

There is something rather liberating about contemplating your mortality.  Also, the revelation that I'm really not worth that much.  

But the thing that is far harder, I have discovered, is making provision to kill one's virtual self.  Social media, email addresses, websites, credit cards and banking are all managed by computer.  And I have several of each.  Even this blog.  

So there is a separate letter to be opened "in the unfortunate event of my incapacity, misfortune or death," that begins, "Sorry -- I wish I could have planned this differently."

But on a happier note, this evening we're having a little parish function to watch the movie, The Way, as a way of generating some parish interest in my Camino. We're using my pilgrimage as a way of helping parishioners "invest" in the journey by getting them to sponsor me on a "per-mile" basis.  If $20.00 per mile can be raised, I will carry a brick from Lantz (Lantz is famous for its brick plant, begun by Lloyd Shaw almost eighty years ago, and whose community interest built a school, an arena, and two churches (including my own parish church)) to the Iron Cross (Cruz de Ferro), a monument that marks the highest point of the Camino at about 1500 meters approximately two-thirds of the way along the trek.  Right now, we're a little over $9.00 per mile.  So I'll carry a "facing brick" -- about a quarter of the thickness of a full size brick.  It's a token.  But if you'd like to help, send your pledge to "The Anglican Parish of Lantz", 14 Church St., Lantz NS  B2S 1P3.  Receipts will be sent at the end of the year.