On a dreamlike summer day on Caribou Lake near Duluth, a canoe cut through the glassy water. Father Vincent James Arimand, 92, was at the front of the boat, his paddle moving effortlessly, his dream coming true.

Father Vincent, a resident of The Shores at Ecumen Lakeshore, had been musing and wishing out loud that he could go canoeing again– like he did so many times, so long ago.  Sandra Dantes of Ecumen Lakeshore at Home, which is the name of our at-home services in Duluth, heard him—and decided to honor his wish and empower him to make it happen.

“I couldn’t help but notice the gleam in his eyes each time he shared his canoeing stories with me,” Sandra said.  “He would reminisce about his earlier years and the hundreds of miles he covered while paddling a canoe.  I thought, let’s make this happen again.”

Sandra believed he could still do it.  She had seen him daily walking the Lakeshore grounds with only minimal assistance.  So she found a generous local merchant who donated the use of a brand-new canoe, loaded it on her truck, picked up Father Vincent and his personal aide, Leif Johnson, and headed for the lake.

On that picture-perfect Sunday afternoon, an elated Father Vincent eagerly climbed into the front of the canoe.  Leif took the back, and Sandra took the middle seat. They pushed off and glided the lake for several hours– smiling and singing.

It was a beautiful day.  The past was present again.  And Father Vincent summed up this way: “If I am dreaming, please do not wake me up!”

Father Vincent isn’t dreaming, he’s living!  We look forward to more of Father Vincent’s canoe trips.