And... I'm Back!!

Today is an anniversary of sorts for us. On this day, one year ago, the water stopped flowing in our home on Campbell Place. One year ago, a journey began. 2007 has been a year of upheaval for us and today, hopefully, it ends.

For most people, the new year begins on the first day of a new year. For me, for us, today marks the beginning of a new year, hopefully one with no further major upheavals.

We endured six weeks of no water, in the middle of winter. Thanks to the kindness of friends, we had occasional respite; my employer and another friend allowed us to use their respective homes while they were away. We moved into a basement suite at the beginning of February and shortly after that, John’s father came to live with us. He was with us for only a few months, but our lives, of necessity, had to conform to his needs.

Then, in October, John was offered a job at the coast and we packed up all our things, put most of it into storage and went there. That, as you know, didn’t work out as planned and we returned to Kelowna after just three weeks.

We had no idea what we would find in our search for a new home and, thankfully, we found what seems to have been the last available apartment in this town (a story in our local paper puts the apartment vacancy rate in Kelowna at 0%), a third floor walk up. We had very little help in moving everything in; into our fifties, you can imagine how our bodies feel, I’m sure. We did it though. Only one sofa, a three piece sectional that measures over 8’ long, wouldn’t make it up the stairs. Apart from a room full of boxes to unpack, we’ve moved in. We’ve made most of the space livable and fairly comfortable. As yet, there are no pictures on the walls and our plants are still at a friend’s home, but we’re comfortable (it's warm and has plenty of hot water!).

Now, we recuperate. I’ve gone back to work and John will be working again shortly. Now, our lives can settle into a comfortable, and comforting, routine… I hope. Slowly, over the next weeks and months, we’ll unpack the boxes and decide just what to do with all of the things we no longer need, or want.

One year. A year of uncertainty, sometimes of quiet desperation, sometimes of not so quiet desperation, a year of trials and tears, has come to an end. For us, on December 18, a new year begins.

To all of you who read this blog, thank you. Your kind thoughts, prayers and words of encouragement have been instrumental in keeping me, and us, sane. You are so appreciated and I wish I could give each of you the hug you so richly deserve. Thank you, thank you, thank you!