As I type this post, I am packing to hit the road home to Ontario. I am about to set off on a great adventure that will see me drive through such places as Missoula, Montana; Bismarck, North Dakota, Eagle River, Wisconsin, Alvinston, Ontario and then back through Dominion Bay, Manitoulin Island, Nipigon, Ontario, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba; Medicine Hat, Alberta; Rossland, British Columbia and back home to Coquitlam. Two weeks of wonderful, freedom-giving, awe-inspiring driving wrapped around a long-anticipated visit home with family!

At this point you might be asking, Patti, are you nuts? More likely you are wondering what the heck a “farm hutch” is. Well, it is a well-crafted piece of furniture that holds many memories in our family. It has housed treasured mementos such as tiny baby shoes, decades of Christmas cards given and received, wrapping paper, books and once, a freshly laid egg from an adventurous hen who found her way into our house on the farm! It was the place just inside the veranda door where we put our keys, our lunch boxes, report cards, the ever-missing measuring tape, and spare change. Through many moves after the farm, it has also been festooned with well-worn and sometimes framed family photos. It is an important piece of Henderson history and I am the fortunate one who gets to adorn it in BC with my vintage camera collection and Dad’s favourite books.

You see, last summer Dad asked me to find a way to bring the farm hutch back to BC now that I finally have an apartment big enough to fit it. I could think of no better way to grant his wishes than to take the time to celebrate life and love through a soul-saving adventure home to retrieve it. I shared this plan with Dad before he passed away and he smiled and nodded. I wanted very badly to make this trip last summer but I just was not in the best shape to take on such a long, likely emotion-filled drive. Luckily, time does heal. It has been a year and my heart is in a better place and I think I am now up to the task. It is a fitting tribute to family love and I’m anxious to turn the key of my rental pick up truck early tomorrow morning and hit the long and winding road home. I can’t wait to wrap my arms around my sister Jen and her family for a giant Henderson hug. I long to see my Mum and hold her hand and talk. Soon! Soon!

Like the photo above that I took not that far out of Cochrane, Alberta, the road beckons! I promise to take some photos along the way, and to share some stories with you upon my return! Until then, your Vagabond Photographer is signing off. Until we meet again!