It's funny how those lucky days come every once in a while. The stars, the lucky charms and the rabbit's feet all come together, and you are blessed with good luck for a brief moment.

I'm a little superstitious that way, but I truly believe that when you get on a roll, you get on a roll for at least three things in a row. If bad things come in threes, then the reverse must also be true.

The best of all surprises on Oct. 4 of this week was the fact a major passion of mine was acknowledged and supported by the Ontario government. I have been involved with the Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice, in some way or another, since I moved to this area in 1999.

From day one, I was involved in the cause of hospice palliative care. I had never really heard about the concept of universal dignity in death. But I liked the notion from the beginning.

If you aren't aware with the term hospice palliative care, let me sum it up in a few short words, and without the medical terminology. If you are dying, which is an inexorable fact of life, there will be someone there to hold your hand when no one else will. There will be someone there who cares about your pending experience, and has dedicated themselves to bringing peace to that concept of death. There will be someone there to bring life to death, not the other way around.

Dr. Bob Kemp, who is one of the most inspirational people I know, dedicated so much of his post-retirement life to bringing the concept of hospice palliative care to Ontario, Canada, the world. And now his dream has become reality with a major funding announcement made Oct. 4 by the government.

When I think about the question of whether or not we should have hospice palliative care as a fully funded health care service, the answer is obvious.

Why wouldn't we have this as a society if nothing else? Dignity in death. Not the clinical hospital death. Death at home, or within the confines of a residential hospice, seems like a preferred route if at all possible.

For my part, I volunteered on committees of the Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice Board, as they worked so hard to bring this concept to universal recognition. We held garage sales, we hosted fundraisers, walks, runs, whatever we could to raise money. Beth Ellis, executive director of the hospice, went wherever, whenever, to convince benefactors and government that this concept was nothing to be ashamed of.

Much of the success of Tuesday's announcement by the government can be directly attributed to Beth, her staff and all the volunteers at the Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice.

In terms of our business, Brabant Newspapers, we stuck with this cause for seven years, donating advertising space and holding our own fundraisers every year. After stints on various committees, I ended up on the board of directors.

But on Tuesday, this week, the McGuinty government announced permanent funding for the Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice. While it may be hard for me to say, because I'm still mad about many other issues, the Liberals are okay today in my mind. They really came through with something I believed in.

It really is a dream come true, I can't even begin to tell you. Just the thought of everyone celebrating this moment was enough to make me shed a tear.

I can remember so many moments, trying to convince people of our cause, where you just wondered if you were mad. You'd talk to someone about hospice palliative care, and they'd look at you with a blank stare.

This isn't just a new fad, this is the way of the future. It's the right thing to do, and I would encourage anyone unfamiliar with hospice palliative care to "google" it.

So, for the rest of the day! There was an added bonus to old Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2005. The string of good luck continued with news of a pending vacation trip with friends, and a 7-2 win for my beloved Stoney Creek Warriors, of which I also serve on the board of directors.

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