Flying Home

Even though I have a fulfilling, busy, and amazing life in Bermuda, sometimes I find it difficult to live away from my family. I miss my kids. I miss my sisters. I miss my longtime friends. When those feelings get particularly strong and develop into a kind of malaise, I peruse the Air Canada and Westjet websites for seat sales. If I find a cheap flight I’ll book it. A flight to Toronto takes less than three hours so it’s an easy trip to make.

In late September, I was hit with a yearning to see my loved ones. It had been close to three months since I’d been back in Ontario, three months since I’d hugged my daughter and sons, three months since I’d laughed with my sisters, three months since I’d yakked with my friends. Of course we connect through FaceTime and Skype, phone, email, and texting, but none of those substitute for physical contact. So I checked the airline websites. To my dismay, there wasn’t a seat sale until November, so I had to defer the satisfying of my longing and booked flights for six weeks  ahead.

I filled those six weeks with writing, and meetings, and volunteering, and golfing, and visiting, and walking, and painting, and snorkelling, and playing piano, and reading, and…eventually the days were crossed off my calendar and the date of my flight arrived.

For this past week I’ve been in Canada, having flown in last Thursday, and will return to Bermuda tomorrow. I have hugged my kids, eaten meals and played cards with them. I’ve shared wine and food with my friends. I’ve had sleepovers with my sisters. I’ve been replenished. And am ready to go home.