In the first week of April my children, husband and I went to visit the place I spent formative years. It is one of my favourite places on earth because of the memories and because of how I feel when I go there. We went to visit family friends we had not been able to visit as a family for a few years as times of changed financially.
However, until the day we left and still while travelling some of my children were sick. While on the ferry to get there one child was refusing to eat because of pain in his throat. We had been sick for months and I just hoped that once we go there somehow we would all get better.
The morning of our trip we all squished into our seven passenger mini van. This van had five adult sized people, a car seat, and all our luggage. There were seven of us travelling, I was in the back middle seat because that was where I had to fit. We left at 3 in the morning to try to catch the first ferry. Every other time we have done this we have been successful and have just been able to go onto the ferry. We arrived at 4am for the 5am sailing. I had made plans for friends to meet us at a beach in the earlier morning and then to be in other places at different times throughout the day. As we payed for the ferry I thought I heard the gentleman say that we may not catch a ferry. until 12:45. It was 4am. Say what?????!!!!!!!! I double checked with my husband as were driving into the line up and he confirmed. My heart dropped and my breathing accelerated. It was rainy, windy, and everyone was wide awake.
That morning was a long one. The 5am ferry came and went, the 7:45am ferry came and went, and then we heard a rumour we may make it onto the 10:15am ferry. I was holding onto hope. I had already cancelled a lot of our plans and felt pretty sick about it. We had waited six hours in a very crowded vehicle and were hanging on by small threads. When the ferry arrived the truck in front of us was allowed on (we were the second in line) and that was it. I felt like I was going to vomit. Then when the ferry was almost full they let us on along with three other cars. My relief was just huge.
We made it through the two hour ferry ride without too much drama although I heard an announcement about not running on the ferry while still in the vehicle with the sleeping baby and wondered if that was because of my crew, and yes it was!
When we drove off the ferry the weight lifted for me as it always does. I am just home. I am myself. It is a relief. We headed straight over to visit our dog who is not ours anymore. We had her for three years before our baby made it clear she would not share any sort of house with an animal that wanted so much attention. The couple that has our dog now are the sweetest humans and love her so dearly.
Seeing her was such a blessing. She remembered us and her loving heart was beautifully expressed. Oh I just was so thankful to see her!
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