No surprise, then, when the restaurant was finally done, finally, finally closed, that I should fall sick. It's been 4 months of back and forth, couch-surfing the most challenging of situations, and no sooner than the restaurant is finally done and I'm waiting for my cheque than I fall sick.
Chest, flu, hot, cold, fever. But I'm hanging on for my cheque, once I'm paid I can get out of here, wake up early, get out of the house, see daughter, go to cafe's, errands, thrifting, pass the time until it's late enough and safe enough to return. The cheque, due any day, but not, and every day passes with the disappointment of another day in Calgary...
I'm sick, but I'm suppressing it.
Finally, late Saturday night the final cheque, Sunday morning I'm off. The temporary setback of no banks open is overcome by the fact I have a release on my bank account, I'm surprised, cautiously check it out, withdraw enough to pay my host for the past few weeks, then I'm off...
Not nearly as happy as I should be, all things considered, but the weather is cold, drear, blizzarding in spots, the roads good and then treacherous, and this return to the Kootenays, I'm not sure this will be home either, where is home?, and this gets me thinking...
Wildlife, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, caribou...
The drive, long, exhausting, I'm sick, lacking in inspiration, imagination...
...and finally, home "ish", the woodshed, turn up the heat, wait, the next 2 days sleeping 20 hours per day, fevered sweats and dreams, of restaurants, filled with unexpected customers, unannounced, paper napkins heaped over on Corelle plates...the customers aren't ready to order, everywhere I look new tables that haven't been served...
...a funeral, 4 young indian girls carrying the black coffin of their schoolmate...
...looking for the restaurant, the new restaurant, on 4 street, they need my help only I can't find it, the new restaurant, don't care, don't want to...
Waking up, every couple of hours, the sheets soaking, falling back asleep, it's to be expected, this has been the longest 4 months of my life and I'm glad it's over, but now, perplexed as to what should come next, and I know but this is the natural detoxification...