"When I was young, I was hitchhiking with my sister across the country to British Columbia when we ran out of money and had nowhere to go, no food and nothing to drink. A very nice family brought us in, fed us, washed us and gave us money to get the rest of the way without any problems. When I asked them what I could do for them in return to thank them, their response was simply this: Repay our good deed with another one. For every good deed that is given another is returned and that is enough for us."
I have never forgotten that and I live everyday by the message that it sends.
First off, I would like to thank everyone for following me in my journey out West and for all of their support along the way. I have had the pleasure of re-connecting with certain members of my family, people in the community as well as complete strangers.
This has not been an easy task due to the fact that I have literally wiped my slate clean and I have started over... A fresh start to a new life. I had to go through a lifetimes worth of belongings, family heirlooms, and many items that I have collected over the years to decide who get certain articles and what I would donate... Where to begin?
My cousin Julie and I have had quite a few adventures over the last few months becoming quite close and making up for many lost years a long the way. I don't know what I would have done without her love and support... I would still be curled up in a ball on the floor wondering what the heck I was doing! (Insert a Chuckle here) We had many good times and great memories that I can easily pack up with me at no additional cost and I can keep them forever. We laughed, we cried, we loved it more than Cats! Thank you Jules for everything that you did and have done for me. I will never forget it. Going to Over the Rainbow with you and your family... Getting our hair cut at Shag... My last Tito's pizza (Insert sad face here) and our last night together in St. Jacobs. Thank you for everything... I love you little Cuz!
There were many people that I was fortunate enough to meet along the way as well. A Mr. Gary DeLong is one of them. Gary and I met by fluke one day when he was enquiring about my BBQ that I had posted on line to sell. He came over to inspect the unit and we had an opportunity to start talking about my plans to move out to Western Canada and why I was making the move. We had a chance to get to know each other a little better and he had a chance to meet my beloved Greyhound Inez. Now, when Gary and I were looking at the BBQ, we entered through the side gate to get into my back yard, and when we were inside looking at other items that I was either selling or donating, we did not exit through the back of the house but the front instead. I went to let Inez outside right after Gary had left and for the one and only time, I did not check the side gate. I went to grab an item from one of my back bedrooms and expected to see Inez waiting by the patio door as she always does. This time she was not there. I called out for her and when she didn't come running right away I had an instant 'gut feeling' telling me that she went through the gate. I ran outside (in the pouring rain) to find that the gate was in fact left open. Now.... The panic that you feel when you realise that you're best friend has ran away only a week from the date that you're moving is the most horrible feeling in the world. For all of my friends and family that know me well know that Inez is my entire universe... She is my everything and in that very moment, I thought that I would never see her again.
I ran to the front of my house to see if I could see her and I couldn't... Which way did she go? Where would she go? Did she get hit by a car? There are a million thoughts that go racing through your head but the main one is I HAVE TO FIND HER! The gentleman that lived next door was outside at the time and I asked him if he had seen Inez and he said no. We both jumped in our cars to try and find her. As I was searching my neighbourhood, I noticed that Gary was parked at the park not far from my house. I don't know what I was thinking, but I pulled over and knocked on his window and asked him if he had seen Inez at all. Now keep in mind, that this is a man that I had just met minutes prior to all of this happening. Gary gets off of his phone and takes off with me to try and locate my Inez. I went down by my Aunt and Uncle's home to see if they were available to help with the search when I saw two young boys walking down the street. I stopped and yelled, "Have you seen a Greyhound running around the neighbourhood?!" and the response I got was music to my ears... They had her. She was in my backyard and she was safe. I sped over to my house and found Gary, Richard and two other residents of my neighbourhood sitting in front of my house. My first instinct was to hug the lady who brought Inez home and when I did, I couldn't help but sob uncontrollably. I thanked Gary and Richard and went in my back yard to be reunited with my baby girl. I knew that evening, that Gary would end up being a friend in the end.
We keep in touch, after his assistance in the return of Inez, and I told him that he could have the BBQ that I was trying to sell as well as anything else that his young daughter could use for her home. Gary and his wife came back a few days later with a cube van and cleaned out most of my house (which I was very thankful for) and even offered to help me finish up the packing. Now, this is a complete stranger. I didn't know much about him... And he knew very little about myself but we just got a long like we had known each other for years. The next day, he called me first thing in the morning to see if I needed a hand with the rest of the packing as I had St. Vincent de Paul coming to pick up the rest of my donations. I told him that I appreciated the offer and that I would take him up on that. As the darling that he is, he brought me a coffee and we talked for a few moments while we waited for the drivers from St. Vincent de Paul. When we were done loading the donations truck, he stuck around for a few more moments and let me know that if I needed anymore help the following day, to just let him know.
I was expecting Julie later in the morning so I said goodbye and thank you for everything like I was never going to see him again. Julie showed up not long after Gary had left and we continued to finish up a large portion of the packing while finding many treasures along the way. That evening, we went to Shag where Julie surprised me with a hair cut (THANK YOU JULES! I STILL LOVE IT) and we went to go and say my final goodbye to my Grandma and Grandpa Hanna.
The next day (also known as the moving day) to my surprise, I get a text from Gary... Staying true to his word, he still wanted to assist me with the move. Not only does he help me bring a lot of garbage to the curb, he also brings me lunch and continues to help me lift many heavy items that I would have not been able to move on my own. A COMPLETE STRANGER did all of this for me... For me. I made a friend out of nowhere. A friend that I will always cherish and one that I will never forget.
Thank you Gary... Thank you.
This was just half of the move... The easy part of the move. The most difficult part was yet to come...
To be continued....
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