Has it really been over 10 months since I last checked it? I know that since my accident I don't have much concept of time but this is ridiculous. Perhaps it is an indication that I am, once again, actually living my life. It definitely is not my old life but it is MY life.
In the time since I last posted there have been many changes. First of all I decided in late summer last year that either 2012 or 2013 would be when I moved back to my hometown. I was finding that city life was just too much for me. It really hit home after Leo took a turn for the worst last year, was hospitalised for a month and then had to go into long term care due to health concerns. I would stay in my apartment for days on end only leaving it when I absolutely had to. It wasn't healthy at all. Then I had to make an unexpected trip to Terrace to removed Leo's personal items out of the property that my mum & dad bought when I was just little.
I was in Terrace for two weeks and just didn't want to leave when it was time. The reasons were twofold. One is that it was just so comfortable to be home. I could go downtown without feeling overwhelmed by people, traffic or noise. I saw friends I've known since I was little. I didn't have to drive all over just to get one little thing. The second reason is that I fell in like with a man I've known since I was young. We hadn't seen each other in over 30+ years and initially it was just nice spending time with him. But a couple of days before I left it became apparent that there was more going on emotionally than just a friendship.
Within two weeks Walter had been to Vancouver....then he drove down (17 hour drive!) two weeks later. I flew up on New Year's Eve for 2 weeks....he flew down again in February and March and I was up here again in March. During these trips we fell from like to love, bought a home and declared ourselves! By the end of April we had taken possession of our home and moved in together.
I have to say that living with someone like me who has a brain injury is not always the easiest thing in the world but Walter is not only taking it in stride he's helping me get back to being me. Life is easier for me than it has ever been. We are friends who enjoy each other's company and have similar interests. We went to visit another high school friend in Dease Lake (7 hours north of Terrace by vehicle!) and went fishing while we were there. I caught my first fish in over 15 years... a lovely 21 inch brook trout. Tasted great on the BBQ!
As an early birthday present Walter bought me a Giant Cruiser Bicycle. My son Sam says I must look like Angela Lansbury on Murder She Wrote. I hope not....I'm not even going to be 51 until July 3rd! LOL So we've been biking around town and out over the new Skeena Bridge and the old Skeena Bridge....on back trails and pretty much every neighbourhood EXCEPT those up on the bench.... it is after all a coaster bike!
Ok...there is much more to write but I'm off to get ready for a lunch date. My friend Kelly and I are already into a Tuesday lunch routine. Love it!!!
Hopefully I will see you sooner than last time!
Barb
