Friday March 21

Today my daughter turns 40. Happy Birthday Dana.
Am I really old enough to have a 40 year old daughter?

Today I go home but she does not know. She thinks I am coming home tomorrow.

The day begins with the final chapel service at 8 am. A special service with more dancing and a dialogue about the 8 millenium development goals. Several members of the Ecumenical Women Steering Committee took part in the dialogue. It is sad to say goodbye again to so many friends.

The briefing this morning was interesting. We still do not have agreed conclusions.We were briefed by the the Facilitator of the Commission who commented that the negotiations went almost all night. In the morning 23 NGO (Non governmental organizations) made verbal presentations including Christine Mangale for Ecumenical Women with Ryan Smith there taking pictures of her. There was also a young woman who spoke very well on behalf of the young women with the Working Group on Girls.

The Chair of the Bureau is the Ambassador from the Phillipines. There are 120 + paragraphs that are agreed
The Commission will reconvene at 11 am  . There must be collective ownership he said. There are 8 issues outstanding: sexual reproductive health and services, "family" , comprehensive education, the effects of climate change,resources, crisis and its impact on women, sovereignty, "SOGI" which is sexual orientation and gender identity,.  He made a really great statement: "Don't forget the forest by looking at the trees".

 Lopa was recovering from the 4 am session and so Anne from Switzerland reported for UN Women. Several things seem to be problematical other than the 8 issues.  There appears to be a disconnect between some of the African negotiators and their NGOs and perhaps also their governments. Other countries  are slowing things by insisting that they check with their governments about the issues which one would assume they had done before coming to New York. She reported that no extensions will be allowed, (in the past they have been allowed to run over into Saturday.) She feels that all seem to be trying to find a solution, it is just that it is difficult.

At 10 am the advocacy committee met to pray for the Commission ( or maybe that was Thurs). All present spoke their own prayer and it was a powerful moment.

Back to the hotel to finish packing and check out.  They really did give me the agreed rate which was wonderful. Left the luggage in storage and off to closing Eucharist at the Episcopal Church Certer at 12:10 pm/ My roommate, Alice is leading worship and the priest from Africa, maybe Zimbowa, preached. It was a beautiful service attended by the Anglican Delegates from around the world and a few others. It is again hard to say goodbye to new friends and old.  

Joan Fraser from Long Island, Alice and I went to Fabio for lunch - a wonderful Italian restaurant. We ate slowly and just enjoyed being together. After lunch Joan picked up her car and drove us to LaGuardia. Alice managed to get on standby for my flight and got on it rather than waiting another 2 hours for her  flight.

We had a good flight to Toronto and said goodbye for a while. My daughter Jennifer picked me up[ and we got home after 10 pm, watched a little curling and went to bed. Tired - yes and those grandsons get up early.
Glad to be almost home and hope that my cough goes away now.

Blessings Judy