Out With The Old In With The New Part 1

May turned into June turned into July before I was able to return to my beloved "Chateau", however time was not wasted while I was 3000 miles away. I was on my own now as the Chateau had failed to impress my husband on the maiden voyage. In many ways I was just as happy to be left to my own devices. This was to be my undertaking, my space, my house. I took great solace in the peace I thought I would find amongst the hills and waves of my new surroundings. I was still so very tender from the events of the year before and needed a place to grieve and shed my tears in privacy. I needed a distraction and I needed to feel that I was building - or rather - re - building something. Instinctively I knew this would be a cathartic process. I had no idea then that it would become a long term, passionate love affair.

So I took mental stock of all that was missing or broken and began to make my list. Sears online and I did a robust business. A new couch and chair were in order as was a new refrigerator. Before I headed east again I arranged with Frank (a local) to come out and install a new furnace, water heater and pump. I called the lovely, ever patient Mary at the Sears depot in Parrsboro and arranged for delivery of my items. Someone would meet me at the Chateau with all my gooides the day after I returned.

Yet again I eagerly boarded the red eye to Halifax. The car rental people began to know me by name and vehicle as I happily wobbled off the 6:30AM flight. I had by now fallen into a routine. Wait half an hour for luggage (you'd think it would be faster that early in the morning!), cruise past the car rental counter - chit chat with the guy or gal there. They always asked me if I knew where I was going. I always replied yes, though after no sleep on some flights (when the Maritime boys came back from Fort Mac and were a bit too loud for me to drown out with headsets) I wasn't as sure. I always got a 4 door with lots of room for luggage as I was hauling all kinds of gems from the homefront in Alberta. Extra dishes and pictures and knick knacks. Things belonging to my mother that would have a new life out east. New bedding. New tablecloths. A maritime flavoured wreath from Winners (why I thought they wouldn't have a shell wreath in Nova Scotia escapes me!) I was nesting!! Off I would go - stop at the Timmy's for coffee (double double) and an apple fritter and down the highway I would drive. I'd get the Halifax Chronicle to read once I got "home" and either drove along in blissful silence - breathing in the moist morning air - or I'd crank up the CD and sing along at the top of my lungs. All to celebrate the joy I felt at being in this place.

I didn't care that the furnace didn't work. I didn't care that there was no water. I was free to be with my thoughts and to do what I needed to do in order to get past these untimely partings. Many conversations were had with both my friend Gerri and with my mother on these drives to my reprieve. I would drive up the hill and stop in front of the by now, very wiggly stairs. Turn the key in the lock and...I was home.