Don’t look back…how often do we tell ourselves that? Often I suppose. And the advice usually goes unheeded. Human beings were built to look back, that’s why we have that swivel joint in our necks – Stephen King
I’ve said before that ship life is very unusual in regards to relationships, all relationships not just the kind with the capital “R”. You go for months – sometimes much longer – without seeing the people dear to you. The thing is, that makes the reunion a lot sweeter when it comes. Even when it’s brief.
I normally don’t get off the ship in Vancouver, it’s a turnaround port and my only morning off which usually means I crash out early the night before and sleep late on the Saturday morning (in fact, I was so tired last night that I was out like a light at 7pm and didn’t wake up until 6am…so much for the idea of quick nap before going to the show) – but when your best friend writes you and says that she’s rescheduling her flights so that she can see you for three hours in the morning (and I do mean a serious reschedule), you tend to do a pretty good imitation of a headless chicken running around getting everything arranged so you can get off the ship (“agaah! Why do I have IPM! Someone take my IPM pleeeeease?”).
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I saw Gabrielle, we parted ways in quite a different place than we are now, and a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then. I suppose I should have known better than to worry. Family is, after all, always Family. You might find yourself hurt by them on occasion, you might fight, you might – on very rare occasions – hate each other, but at the root of it all, they’re still Family.
There are far worse ways to start a day than sitting on a log at the beach, in your own country – though not your own hometown – admiring the Canada geese, and eating fresh baked (organic – go me for being healthy) bread with homemade jam. You have amazing conversations in those circumstances; you friendships take very reassuring leaps. Some journeys last years, some only last a few hours – it’s a tossup which are the more important.
My life is a constant turn-over of people and places, but as I’ve always said – the anchor lines stay. Sometimes they strain, sometimes they fray, but they almost always stay.