Something I haven’t been ready to write about until now, is my last year, and how I have flung myself into travel to distract myself with something fun, that makes me feel good. Now I should state that we have had the idea for Roamancing for a number of years and had been planning it’s launch for this very week a year ago. That didn’t happen, because my Dad died, the third death in my family in a month (including Sara the golden retriever and Charlie the cat). Needless to say the launch of Roamancing was put on hold, and when we did return to it, it was an outlet for fun and light-hearted laughs, at times a busy escape from dealing with a lot of loss in the last year (which included a number of beloved friends), and as we move forward an outlet for doing good and opening people’s minds and hearts up to people around the world. And along the way, it has introduced me to many new friends from around the world, that have found a spot in my heart, and returned me into the open arms of old friends. It is these old friends across Canada that inspired two road trips from BC to Ontario and back again, that and the need to reflect, cry and process.
This last Spring’s #CrossCanada road trip finally allowed me to do that, and on a day that I was driving to the hospital in Saskatoon to tell a very dear woman that I loved her one last time, I happened on the most beautiful scene on Saskatchewan’s Yellowhead Highway. It was exactly what I need in that moment. I pulled over and sat in the quiet, watching the beauty that lay before me for the next hour. It brought a sense of calm and peace to what was a difficult day.
Now as the tears for Dad finally flow for me, my mind keeps taking me back to that sunny afternoon and the peaceful beauty at the side of the road in Saskatchewan.
Many of our tales are about the people we meet in our travels, but it will always be quiet moments, like this in nature that will allow me to reflect and bring me peace. And it will be through the music, that I will remember Dad with joy, even if tears are flowing down my face.
I can’t tell you how perfectly timed this post is for me and how much I agree with it. Last week I went to a rural Czech village to scatter the ashes of an old friend who loved the place. It turned out to be a great day and I had a real moment of beauty with a ram in a sheep’s meadow that sort of made me take in a greater circle-of-lifeness of the whole thing. I don’t expect anyone else to understand it, and I’m on the fence myself about writing about it so I’m glad you did.
Thanks Jen. It was a hard post to write and I questioned whether or not I wanted to share my feelings, but it seemed to be the processing I needed this week.
I am so sorry to hear about your friend. I’m glad you had that moment for them and for you.
This post captivated me. I love the outdoors too and you are a great writer and photographer. I will follow your blog now.
Thanks John! That is very kind of you to say.