From now on

When I met my lost soul sister a few weeks ago, we talked about my separation and I told her that the thing I have found the more difficult and still is, was to lose contact with the son of my stepdaughter. I took care so many time of this 3 years old little guy. He was always asking to stay at Louis & grandma's house because he always had all our attention and we spent days playing with him and learning him things. The bond between us became so strong that even after more than a year, thinking about him makes me feel melancholic.

He was my little treasure.

My soul sister asked me why I didn't kept contact with him? I replied that I thought it was better for all of us. With time, he would forget about me and I thought it would be more respectful toward my ex if I let her the exclusive contact with her own grandchild.
So I took the decision to avoid any contact with him.

But this afternoon, when I came home from my trip to Iceland, I checked my messages and among them there was this message from my ex-stepdaughter. She was saying that her little guy at home was still sad because he missed his Louis. And last week, after the death of his rabbit, he would have said that he thought that the same thing happened to me. She said that she understood why I never gave any news and she also thought that time would arrange things but she was now forced to admit that it would take much longer than expected and she wouldn't want her kid to think that I'm dead.

So I called her back and talk with her. I was happy to know that her little family was okay. Then I talked to my little treasure. After reassuring him about a few worries he had, he began to talk candidly about his little world. The now 5 years old boy sounded healthy and happy. He told me all about his dog, goat, fishes, frogs, etc. He also talked about that one time when we went at the zoo and I sat him on my shoulder so he could see the lions eating meat.

He made me laugh, he made me cry.

I promised him that I'll go see him one day. I don't know when, but it will happen.

In less than one hour, my sister will come to pick me up and drive me to Montreal at my mother's place where I'll spend the night before taking my bus, early Friday morning, to Boston Logan airport. From where I will catch my flight to Reykjavik Keflavik airport. I will arrive in Iceland early Saturday morning (6:00 am) and the group meeting is schedule for 6:00 pm at the Floki guesthouse. The next morning, we will start our trek.

While I'll be away, my mother will take my apartment. When I made her the offer, she didn't hesitate long. She'll be closer to her daughter and granddaughters and she will be able to invite her sisters to spend time in the north away from the city. She also have access to the condo swimming pool. It will be useful for her because she has trouble going through the hot summer days.

My 2 bags are ready, I hope I didn't forget anything. This time, instead of using a 99¢ notepad, like on my last year trip in the USA, I spent a big $9.99 for a fancy notebook in which I'll be able to write my vacation story while I'll be on my trek. I know it won't make my stories better but who knows it might inspire me more!

On this departure evening, I would say that I have a cocktail of mix feelings. Of course the predominant one is excitement. I have prepared this trip for so many time and now that it turns into reality, I'm very excited. There is also a part of expectation, I don't know with whom I will share this adventure and exactly in what kind of conditions we will be. This expectation add to the excitement in a way and this combination must be the reason why I have trouble to find sleep in the last 3 days. Another feeling that is present but fortunately at a small level is nostalgia. Some of you might remember that the original idea behind this trip was the celebration of my 20th year of relationship with my ex. And in these last days, sometimes unconscious references makes me remember the early steps of the trip preparation when we were two travelers instead of just me. But this feeling always quickly turn in a serenity feeling because this trip is for me the official symbol of turning the page on my old life. The last passage before the exit. Like my friend wrote me recently, The person I will meet during this trip is me. I find it so true. The circumstance in which this trip is taking place, the desert environment of the Iceland island's interior, the International strangers group composition, The total absence of commodities and the inescapable confrontation with nature and climate reality, all that can only bring me a reflection of myself and I'm convince that I will evolve from this trip and learn more about me than I might have in the past year.

Like I already wrote, you'll still hear from me during this trip because I will have time to kill in the many bus stations or airports I will have to go through in the next two weeks but if you want to wish me a good trip this is the right post!

TTYS

Louis

On this next to last day before my move, while my mind was more concentrated on the final preparations and my work obligations, a cyclist rolling in the park stopped at my sight and said my name.
After a brief hesitation, I recognized my lost soul sister
We were very good friends and we haven't seen each other for almost 20 years. With the help of comprehensive employees, I've managed to free myself so we could quickly catch up on each other lives. But after a really too short half hour chat, we both had to go back to our respective obligations but not without taking time to give each other a big hug and a promise to meet again soon, really soon.
It really made my day because she has been someone very special in my life from my high school years through my early twenties and surprisingly during the years we have lost contact, we have taken different but somehow similar paths and I really think they were meant to crossed again.

And tonight I went to see my osteopath for the second time for my painful neck. After the session, while I was all relaxed, she said that the better thing she could do for me would be to let me sleep in her office until next morning!
She said that I was simply completely drained out of energy and I needed rest, a lot of rest, a lot a lot of rest. She made me promise that after my move I would take it very easy. I think she's right, I should stop running around all the time and start reviewing my priorities.

In fact with my move, my upcoming trip, I really feel like I'm starting a new life again:

From now on...

To conclude, here's the last photo of my favorite tree. I won't passing by everyday on my way to work anymore. It nicely closes the loop of my NLB's first chapter don't you think?



P.S. I'll be “unplugged” for almost a week (you might not see any difference since I was rarely present on the OC in the last weeks )
but I'll be back in the middle of next week and this time with a HIGH SPEED CONNECTION!

Take care you all

Louis