Although there have been many famous miracles, walking made this miracle possible for me today.

Please don’t get me wrong; no miracle is more remarkable than giving birth.

However, in early 2010, a few months after my stage 3 throat cancer treatments ended, I began taking daily walks.

At the time, I wasn’t sure how much time I had left on this side of the grass, so I decided to live in the present and not worry about the past or the future.

The past can’t be undone, and the future may never come – so living in the ‘today’ is essential.

Living in the today for me was a goal to beat the 60% odds I was given of dying.

The medical community had done everything possible to save me with chemo and radiation treatments, and now I had to fight the Grim Reaper on my own.

When the going gets rough, the tough get going! ~ football coach John Thomas in 1953

I began walking at the Promenade and Pier at the White Rock, BC beach.

However, although I knew that walking would not cure my cancer, I wanted to breathe the ocean air and see the beauty of Nature in the surroundings.

I played music while walking initially, but I removed the earplugs when I realized the songs were distracting.

I became stronger and walked 3 miles daily in a few months, which was a miracle considering I had never walked that far.

But I was alone. My wife Annette was working; my only local friends were actors and others in the entertainment community.

So, I did not have anyone to walk with.

Danny, is this going to be another story about the Vancouver Venturers, your walking club? ~ Spanky

No, Spanky, it was supposed to be about yesterday’s miracle during my walk in the neighborhood. I guess I got carried away…

Although I hadn’t been walking without the use of a walker because of my heart condition, I recently got a pacemaker, and that was a miracle, too.

In the past two weeks, I have walked an average of 2,500-3,000 steps daily without using a walker.

Usually, I walk Buddy on one route and only change the side of the street if we’re approached by other people walking dogs.

Buddy does not like dogs, cats, or other animals but loves people.

Sometimes, Annette walks with us.

Today, we had almost finished our walk and had just crossed the street when a couple walking towards us stopped.

The man and I made eye contact.

Suddenly, he spoke:

Danny?

Yes, I answered.

His face looked somewhat familiar.

It’s me, Bill Hawke.

OMG! I could not believe my eyes.

Bill is my second cousin on my dad’s side of the family.

We have never met.

I hugged Bill and his wife Gail.

Annette took these photos of the chance encounter.

What are the odds of this coincidence happening?

If Annette and I had remained on the other side of the street or had stopped along the route, we would never have bumped into them!

They had driven to White Rock to visit a friend from Winnipeg, who was staying in a building about two blocks from where we live.

That was a miracle!

In 2020, Bill sent me an email explaining that he had found my name during a search on Ancestry and explained that my Grandmother St. Andrews (nee Mable Law) was his Grandfather’s sister.

We exchanged emails and became friends on Facebook, as did Bill’s wife, Gail, but we have never met. We agreed to meet, but they live in Vancouver, and I’m an hour’s drive away.

During our brief discussion today, I learned that Bill and Gail had lived in Winnipeg until they retired and then moved to Vancouver.

Bill also told me he was born in Oshawa, but his family moved when he was four.

I asked Bill about Uncle Charlie, my Grandma St. Andrews’ brother.

Yes, Danny, he was my Grandfather. He lived on Mary Street, in Oshawa. ~ Bill

That’s right. We lived just off Mary Street and a few blocks from where his home used to be—on the corner of Adelaide and Mary Streets. ~ Danny

Mom and I used to drive by his house a lot, and we would always wave and say hello to him.

I gave Bill and Gail a few more hugs and then waved goodbye.

So, that is how my walk became a miracle!

It will take another miracle to remove the smile from my face.

Dedicated to Bill and Gail Hawke.

I hope my stories are a gift to your head and heart.

Hugs,

Danny

Today’s tune from Danny’s library (purchased):

If only you believe like I believe, baby (If only you believe like I believe)
We’d get by
If only you believe in miracles, baby (If only you believe in miracles)
So would I
If only you believe like I believe, baby (If only you believe like I believe)
We’d get by
If only you believe in miracles, baby (If only you believe in miracles)
So would I

I might have to move heaven and earth
To prove it to you, baby (Baby)
So we’re making love
And you feel the power
And I feel the power
Then there’s really nothing we can’t do
(You know we could, you know we could)
If we wanted to, baby
(You know we could, you know we could)
We could exist on the stars
It’d be so easy

Now, baby
All we gotta do (Baby, baby, baby, oh, baby)
Is get a little faith in you (Baby, baby)
Oh, I’ve been so many places
I’ve seen some things (Yes, I have)
I know love is the answer (Yes, it is)
Keeps holding this world together, yeah
Ain’t nothing better
Ain’t nothing better (Nothing’s better)
And all the answers to our prayers
Hell, it’s the same everywhere, baby (Just the same now)
Nothing ever breaks up the heart (Love’s a game now)
Only tears give you away (Ain’t it a shame now?)

Then you’re right where I found ya (Oh, baby)
With my arms around ya (Oh, baby)
O-o-o-o-o-o-oh, baby
Baby, baby
Love is a magic word, ooh, yeah (Baby)
Few ever find in a lifetime
But from that very first look in your eyes
I knew you and I had but one heart (Baby)
Only our bodies were apart (It’s making me crazy)
That was so easy (Baby)
So easy (Oh, baby)
I had a taste of the real world (Didn’t waste a drop of it)
When I went down on you, girl

Oh, if only you believe like I believe, baby (If only you believe like I believe)
We’d get by
If only you believe in miracles, baby (If only you believe in miracles)
So would I
If only you believe like I believe, baby (If only you believe like I believe)
We’d get by
If only you believe in miracles, baby (If only you believe in miracles)
So would I

I can hear windmills and rainbows
Whenever you’re talkin’ to me (Never say never)
I feel like swirling and dancin’
Whenever you’re walking with me (Whenever you’re walking with me)
You ripple like a river when I touch you (Let me touch you)
When I pluck your body like a string (Show you what I mean)
When I start dancin’ inside ya (Oh, baby)
You make me wanna sing (I love you so)
Yeah (I love you so)
Baby (I love you so)
Baby (I love you so)
Baby (I love you so)
Baby (Oh)

Oh, yeah (Oh, yeah)
All right (All right)
Baby, we’re sure doin’ it tonight (Baby, we’re sure doin’ it)
Every time you come by, let me try (Come on by)
Pretty, please with sugar on it
That’s how I like it, ooh
I can’t even believe it with you
It’s like having every dream I ever wanted come true (Dream of a lifetime)
I picked up your vibes
You know, it opened my eyes (Dream of a lifetime)
But I’m still dreamin’, yeah (Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, oh)
And you’re right where I found ya (Oh, baby)
With my arms around ya (Oh, baby)

Oh, if only you believe like I believe, baby (If only you believe like I believe)
We’d get by
If only you believe in miracles, baby (If only you believe in miracles)
So would I
If only you believe like I believe, baby (If only you believe like I believe)
We’d get by
If only you believe in miracles, baby (If only you believe in miracles)
So would I
So would I
So would I

[Instrumental]

Oh, if only you believe like I believe, baby (If only you believe like I believe)
We’d get by
If only you believe in miracles, baby (If only you believe in miracles)
So would I
If only you believe like I believe, baby (If only you believe like I believe)
We’d get by
If only you believe in miracles, baby (If only you believe in miracles)
So would I

Songwriters: Marty Balin

Here are other songs I’m listening to: These Songs Will Make You Smile Today.