Another lovely summer’s evening in Victoria. After a very ordinary day’s housework, watering my container gardens and setting bread to rise I took a bus to the Victoria neighbourhood of Fernwood. I had learned of Fernfest, that neighbourhood’s annual celebration of their community. It was held yesterday and today, so I was getting into things rather late in the day. In the square in front of The Belfry Theatre on Fernwood Road in Victoria. Fernwood is known as a funky and artsy part of Victoria.
When I arrived,
live and lively music was filling the square. People of all ages were spilling out into the adjacent school yard, sitting on the steps of the Belfry, originally a church but now a theatre for live plays. There was swaying and dancing in front of the musicians at the bandstand. Tables were set farther back with people
gathered with their eats and treats. I only stayed long enough to squeeze through the midway-like crowd, eat a sausage-dog with sauerkraut and relish, and drink a glass of ginger beer. The discovery of their Wishing Tree intrigued me - tags tied ‘round the trunk, a sharpie available for people to write their wishes on a tag. Several of us read through them all. Finding a blank side, I picked up the sharpie and added my own wish, wishing for good health. Most of them were wishing for goodness, peace or kindness. One was a wish for the moon in very childlike handwriting. There were a two or three that were wishes for relief from pain. Of course, beautiful tattoos and purple hair were in abundance on the street. Not just purple, but all shades of magenta, pink and yellow. And the balloon man - a clown costume minus face paint and a red nose - was making colourful balloon poodles and puppies. I watched as he patiently made a special purple puppy and, to help a young mom out, gave it to a very unhappy little girl. I was not there long but being in that busy, happy community was a very pleasant interlude to an ordinary day.
“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand
fibres connect us with our fellow man.”
~ Herman Melville
Author's note: Edited March 12, 2024
When I arrived, 
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