Homeward bounds

Today I am on my homeward journey.

I am looking forward to being home, but I am not looking forward to traveling...

My body has decided that the downward spiral should start while I observe the Grote Kerk (big church) from my hotel bed. A view which is hard to beat, if I may so so. I am in pain. Serious pain. It woke me up in the very early hours of this morning. It was hard to mentally cope with that reality. Knowing that I am having a very long day ahead of me. 

Medication and Meditation. My two reliable sources. My body felt as it is was 'twisted'. There was not one 'straight line' to be detected when I 'scanned' my body during meditation. A peculiar, and rather uncomfortable feeling.

And yes, I was upset. It will cost me a great deal of mental persuasion today,  to not think too far ahead. Today is one of those days that one minute, one breath at the time is the only way I can reach my own bed tonight with my mind and body in tact.

Two days ago I spent time with friend Marga, and visited the grave of my friend Gert who passed away two months ago. It was an emotional, and yet peaceful day. We also had plenty of laughs. I met their children, partner of one, and a new addition to the family, a two week old baby boy. 

Yesterday I mainly watched the world from my bed. Although we (Christine and I) also visited some shops, before some more 'world-passing-by-time' before a lovey dinner out. 

Visits, shopping, dinner. 

All so normal. 

And yet it is not.

I am still glad I came and of proud of my carefully constructed plan to make this trip remotely possible.

Home tonight.

Own bed!

The (Beach) Bucket List

My biggest personal wish for the stay in Texel was to walk on the beach and in the North Sea.

If you can count a few steps as a walk, then I can certainly tick that wish of my (beach) bucket list.

  

Walking in the water, my sticks kept sinking into the sand.

But I am proud.

Proud to have wet sand between my toes!

Brother Kees was with me all the way.

(Edit: Having trouble with adding images, and some disappeared during the edit, and I can't add them... some funny ones, will try again later...)
 

I love the lines the 'wheelchair-pulled-backwards' created in the wet sand.

The following day more if my family arrived

Brother Peter and his Chilean wife Cecilia. 

And my Aunt Corry from Canada, whom I has not seen since 1987. I am now (or maybe always) taller than her. And that is no mean feast, at my 158cm!

This is my mother's younger sister. It is my mother's birthday today. Born 96 years ago, but passed away in 2007.

Brother Hans and his wife Loes. The main organisers of the reunion. 

We arrived at our reunion accommodation later in the afternoon. Othe family members arrived. Some are still to come today.

It is lovely. It is busy. I am exhausted and in pain. But I can see the uniqueness of this event, and trying to hold my  own within it all.