Our fates first collided when Dani and Miri, recently from Israel, rented an apartment from Jules' sister. We became fast friends, Jules and Dani like brothers, Miri and I, sisters expecting babies at the same time. Dani and Jules worked side by side, cutting firewood to sell during the 70's energy crisis and when Jules, I and baby Abby left New Brunswick to start a vegetable farm, we all continued as family, working, playing and laughing together in South Jersey. Then they returned to Israel and the four of us have not been together since.
Fast forward almost forty years. About to be grandparents for the first time, Dani and Miri traveled to the states, bought an RV and went west to Vancouver to be with their son and daughter-in-law for the birth of their grandson. Unable to meet in New Jersey because we had already left on our trip, we tracked each other with spotty communications, realizing that we were running parallel routes across the continent, us further north than they were.
With no intent in mind, we wound our way through British Columbia, wondering as we traveled south if they were still on Salt Spring Island. A brief message let us know that they were leaving in a few days. We had a window of opportunity for our paths to cross so we opened it and rode through.
As we rolled off the ferry our dear old friends greeted us with hugs and tears. So glad to be with each other, we stood by the ramp and talked for hours. Then Miri hopped on the bike with Jules and Dani and I followed them to the organic farm where their son works and lives and their camper was parked. There, for the first time, we met their grandson and their third son, who was born after they returned to Israel. The day flew and after a late dinner and lucky find of a charming apartment in Ganges, we said good night. Tomorrow was another day and we would have many more stories of our years apart to tell.
The river of years flows by too quickly but my mind has not accepted the physical truth. Along the way there have been encounters that have been pivotal. Meeting Dani and Miri was one of them. The time that we spent today going back to these moments of joy has made us all a little younger and slowed the current for just a day or two. It will certainly help sustain us for the rest of the journey.
Riding on
From Crofton to Salt Spring
Paper mill by the ferry
Barges of wood chips waiting to be unloaded
Boats ready to sail
Look who's on the ferry
Look who else is on the ferry
Rear view reflection (not
your average stick figure family)
"Old friends....
...book ends"
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