I am on the 5.45 AM plane today via Vancouver to catch the 7.00 AM ‘thank goodness that there is a direct flight with West Jet to Ottawa and I don’t have to transfer at the dreaded Pearson’ arriving at 2.30 in the afternoon.

Ironically, today’s trip to Ottawa will begin the way this most excellent 10-week adventure started with June doing all the heavy lifting (she has the suitcase full of buttons, which we think will be in the running for coolest buttons at the convention – almost like a Bobby Orr rookie card) and David, professor and author, waiting at the airport.

Of course, there were no buttons back in October when I visited Ottawa to discuss running for this position but June was doing everything related to getting the campaign going and has never stopped.

There are some days recently – we stress according to husband Dan – when June has not gotten out of her pajamas churning out emails, inputting email addresses for our Califlower Townhalls, booking events, getting the schedule straight, ordering campaign material, and generally helping to keep the car sailing straight ahead down the highway.

I like the automotive metaphor because when June and I started it was a little like standing on a highway together while I held the steering wheel and June had two tires under each arm.

We started to run as fast as we could watching other cars sailing by.

Then magically the other parts of the car started to appear all bringing their own unique and essential contribution Sheila, Renate, Jennifer, Greg, Jade, David of London, Nancy, Nick, Sam, Margaret, Julia, David of Victoria, Carolyn (we love you), Gord, Louis-Philipp, Scott, Karl, Bill, Robin, Derek, Don, Simon, Greg and Susan, Ian, Pierre, Annabelle, Matthias, Andrew, Alex, Lynne, John M, John G, John R, Victor, David of Ottawa, Brandon, Paul of Ottawa, Matt, Chris, Geoff, Jason, Ryan, Stephen, Alan, Roger, Darby, Errol, Celso, Andrew, Alex and on and on and on to the convention.

The funny thing is that for the most part none us have ever met each other.

And always the support of Taeko, Michael and Klara (beaucoup de merde!).

Now the pressure cooker of a convention.

To everybody that has come this far together let’s relish the fact that we live in a country where we can express what we think with no fear.

And that we are at important moment in our country’s history trying make politics that is inclusive and responsible and empathetic, and policy where members have a defining voice in collaborative and evidence based approaches the foundation of a new Canadian 21st century excellence shared by all Canadians.

Enjoy and remember.

A chance like this comes once in a generation.

Seize it.

ps. to my VGC friends who have kindly donated to help defray the cost of this campaign particularly those who aren’t, well Liberals, I am tremendously grateful but I will still try to make that 3-foot putt from above the hole on 5.