Canadian Hospitality at It's Best

How do you describe something so familiar and yet not? What words can you use to explain returning to a place that you call home and yet it has changed? Whose life has not taken a different path over the last year?

So much is very different than when we left 14 months ago. And that includes us. We have begun the journey of exploring the perspectives and characteristics that will define how we see the world differently. And we have been doing that amongst those that we love and care for. It's something we often found ourselves longing for while we were away. And now we are surrounded and enveloped by our friends and family.

We arrived back in Canada on Mon. Oct 6, after spending 5 days in balmy Fort Myers Beach, Florida with Tamara, Ian and their 2 super-cute girls (Karenna and Anneke). We were met at the Toronto airport by Tom (Jay's cousin once removed.... I think). As we walked outdoors he warned us that we might not be able to fit all our luggage and us into their sports car. By the time we got to the car we were all ready to at least give it a try. The good news was that we got it all in and we didn't even have to stuff anything under the hood. It did mean that Jay hit his head on the soft topped roof and was sitting side ways - but really that just was par for the course most other places we'd come from.

Somehow people knew that the pasta in South America sort of stinks. They are just so skimpy on the sauce. Our first meal on Canadian soil was a beautifully served spaghetti with chunky meat sauce and fresh garden salad done up with blueberries, a generously shared bottle of our hosts favourite red wine, warmed pumpernickel bread and real butter and homemade apple pie garnished with whipping cream. Thanks so much Lynelle! Other meals have included delicious pastas and stews. Eating cereal and cold milk along with other prepared breakfasts sure beats the lame Peruvian continental, stale-bread-no-eggs breakfasts we'd become accustomed to. Yep it is quite possible that we've gained a few pounds already!

We've spend time reacquainting ourselves with friends from Ottawa who have moved away. Toronto and Barrie are beautiful in the fall. We caught up on news of paddling, nursing and church friends. Some have new babies and other are adjusting to new homes and jobs. Seeing Sabrina on her way back to India and Agnes just before her huge RN test were awesome treats for us both. Our evening with Francois was fantastic - we got to be his first non-family visitors in his new home in Toronto. Hearing Troy's stories about his new job, enjoying Kristen's hospitality and meeting their daughter Lydia for the first time was a great homecoming.

It seems easier for them to tell us about their past year. How do we summarize so much of what we have seen and done into a few conversations, without endlessly repeating ourselves? We are still trying to figure that out. Though it's quite likely you'd hear us say, "Well in this place they did such and such," at some random moment. Or remember when ...

Before we know it, the stories will be lost in our memories if we don't tell them. So I guess even though we might feel hesitant or still in the process of trying to work it out, sharing is the best way to savour, remember and reflect on what this past year will all mean.