Home!

Horseshoe Pond, somewhere on the border of Maine and Canada.  Via messages from Ken Wing, I was able to arrange a rendez vous with John on Saturday the 24th.  The drive wasn't bad, but a good 3.5 hours. We made it in time to see the adventurers pull the boat up to this lake and then paddle across on a gorgeous day. 

Once they paddled across Horseshoe Pond, there was a quarter mile portage to Mud Pond.  The kids and I decided to help.  It was such a workout rolling, carrying and pushing this 400 pound beast!  I couldn't believe how slow it was and how sore I was the following days!

We helped portage the rest of the gear and then headed back to Vermont.  It was a long day, but so great to have John back!

Relief!  I have never felt such a release of stress as I did when John returned to our house. . I wasn't sure if the resentment I had felt towards his trip and his being gone for a month would transend into our togetherness.  But as soon as he was back, the bad feelings disappeared and I felt an overwhelming sense if gratitude.  The first morning that I didn't have to make coffee and breakfast and get the kids moving seemed so easy.  Everything felt so "right" again.

I had my best friend back! I really did feel whole again.  Some say you shouldn't marry your best friend, but I'd argue that you should.  When you marry your best friend, you always have a playmate, a confident, and a person to pick you up when you are down.  I know I have a lot of wonderful people in my life who can be pretty amazing "fill ins", but I prefer the real deal.  John's absence was hard...... really, really hard.  But, I did dig deep and learned to appreciate so much of what he offers our family.