Home at last
The final section of our trip to Canmore went through Saskatchewan so we could catch up with Jim’s family. It was an opportune occasion to arrive –big brother gave his shoulder for troubled times. We were also thoroughly spoilt by Jim’s parents with cookies, brownies, and even the fatted fowl for a roast chicken dinner. Amongst our gifts were couple of bottles of choke-cherry jam – picked and made by loving hands. We knew that for sure because the jam is made from wild fruit and it wasn’t a good season. Jim’s Mom found a hard-to-get-to patch of choke-cherries and told his Dad; “If you love your son you’ll help pick berries.”
We drove out of Saskatoon into a head wind and let only a few gas stations pass by without a visit. We got 7 ½ miles to the gallon and took an extra 2 ½ hours to get home – home. We’ve now been back five days and have spent that time unpacking, organizing and reorganizing – and thinking.
This is my ‘Top Ten’ list of pondered points and lessons learnt.
#1. We have a lot of stuff: shelves full, closets full, cupboards full and even a garage full of stuff. Most of this stuff we have lived without perfectly well for the last year.
#2. It’s possible to live for months in a small trailer with your partner and keep your sanity and your marriage (it can even be fun).
#3. There are some things in this world that we’re better off not knowing. We have not calculated how much money we spent on gas driving across the country – in either direction.
#4 Shooting stars, satellites and loon song are better entertainment than television.
#5. A sunrise walk on Crescent beach is good for the soul – so is the coffee and companionship that follows at the cosy home down the lane.
#6. A pot-roast simmering on the stove makes being trapped at home due to a blizzard much more pleasant.
#7. A lobster dinner with friends (who actually know how to eat them) is more than a meal- it’s an event to remember.
#8. Maritimers (especially Newfoundlanders) are some of the friendliest people in the world. Where else would strangers invite you in off the street for a drink or a meal?
#9. Living and working in a place is the best way to really get to know an area and meet the people. We have only good things to say about the people we worked and played with - and the Lunenburg Curling club became our second home and our second family.
#10. Rejoice in the milestones of life.
That’s what we did last night. We had a celebration with the blogees from Canmore – a celebration of homecoming, a celebration of endeavour achieved, a celebration of old friends reunited.
We prepared an Eastern-styled seafood feast. I think the success of the evening was the huge bowl of mussels, prepared the way that Rosie taught. Each menu item had a memory of shared Nova Scotia meal.
So when we are asked “Are you happy to be home?” we have to answer yes. We lead privileged lives. We have a beautiful home in a beautiful place. Yet, being back in the mountains reminds us of the fact that our adventure is over and our new friends are far, far away. That part makes us sad.
I am writing this on October 1, 2005. It seems like an appropriate date because today is the day I officially end my leave of absence. I start work on Tuesday. We woke this morning to snow on our kayaks. Summer is definitely over.
posted by Michelle & Jim Wiebe at 5:57 p.m.
