Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
“Yes, it is,” I admitted, still wondering what life would be like upon my return. I told
Nora and John about how much I learned from the people I had met, and then I asked Nora,
“So if there is one thing you could teach me about life. What would it be?”
She smiled gently and put her hand on my arm, “Love.”
I wasn't sure if that was a command, or just the whole reason for being here. Or maybe
both.
Nora had shoulder-length hair that she brushed across her head and steely blue eyes that
sparkled. She seemed to read my mind as she explained, “Surround yourself with love.”
In many ways, what the ocean was to Odysseus, love had been to me. I had been sailing
through it this whole trip. Rocked by it at some points, but carried by it for most of the
journey. John offered me a heavy jacket he had in his truck. After feeding me a warm meal,
Nora told me that I could sleep as much as I wanted the next day. That is love. I wondered
if I could sustain the one I had back home.
But first, it was time to go to the Rockies. I had my new warm jacket in hand, and had
gotten yet another earful from John and Nora the night before about the beauty of Canada's
mountains. Again the words from
Shantaram
echoed in my mind, “Freedom is a universe
of possibility.”
Now if Lina had known that, just as I was so close to home, I had decided to head north,
in the other direction, I am sure she would have shaken her head, and whispered, “Run-
ning.” But my whole journey had been dictated by such detours—people guiding my path
for me, often diverting my itinerary as I moved from city to city. I had been sold on the
fabled mountain range, so off I went to Whistler, in the Canadian Rockies.
The full face mask. The new coat. The new gloves. Unfortunately, they were all very
nice accessories, but not very helpful ones. The ride up to Whistler was extraordinarily
beautiful but absolute hell for my face and brain, which was close to a critical malfunction.
After a few hours, I finally reached the famed mountains, my lips practically frozen togeth-
er. I needed to find a place to stay. I left Kindness One, hoping it wouldn't freeze to death
while I searched for warmth. So far Kindness One had never had to deal with the cold.
I asked the many tourists who populated the ski resort at that time of year for a place to
stay, but it appeared there was no room for me. I finally decided to try a hotel. I had found
that it was at the moment when I was closest to giving up, that I usually found my next
miracle. I was getting used to this rodeo by now.
After recounting my journey across earth, the hotel manager offered me a room for the
night. And not just any room. I was living in luxury for the day. I had my own fire, my own
