"Mom, David asked us to spend the night Wednesday. Can we??" Silence. We all look around the dining room......"Mom will not be here on Wednesday. Ask Dad."
I am leaving! My classroom is set up, Mrs. Carr and Dr D. are ready, my family is ready......but are they? 5 weeks is a long time. We have talked about it ad nauseum, but now we are here! I will not be around to OK sleepovers, decide what is for dinner or do laundry. I have a wonderful family, and this post is dedicated to them.
All the Ward women are on expedition this summer.
Another Ward woman is on an expedition!
Alice left on 1 July for Algonquin Park, the same camp both my sister and I went to. It still has no electricity and all their camp food is cooked on a wood stove. She sends us letters. We will see each other again on 22 August -- that is 52 days later.
Carl and Fred are running, working on their computer business, running, getting used to contacts, practicing driving! and running. I have been running with them this month. OK-- I have been running at the same time as them.
Fred and Carl read a letter from their sister Alice. She sent one letter to both to *save paper*.
My wonderful husband Eric now has the football. Just like when new US president is sworn in and the man carrying the briefcase with the nuclear codes moves from one man to another, Eric is now the boss "of the snake pit." No more Mom. The Team is now 1.
Our last night on the deck before I head out to the Arctic.
Tonight we had a very yummy Porterhouse steak dinner, with bones for the dogs. My plane leaves at 6:20AM, so I will be up at 4AM, having my last home coffee for 5 weeks and off on my big adventure.
Thank you to Big T and Anne, to Joan and Jonathan and to Dorota for helping to keep our family going. When I return, school will have already started: Alice will be a 6th grader and Carl and Fred will be in 10th grade.
WOW!
Gerty Ward says: see you in Edmonton!