Today is Tuesday the 21st. It is not yet Sunday the 26th, departure day. I should strike the "yet" from that sentence if I truly want to stay in the today, which right now is so very hard to do. It is beginning to feel like I can see the headlights of the car driven by the arms that will pull this island away from me. It is getting hard.

Today I said some goodbyes. I did not want to take a chance that I would miss some people on Saturday, so I stopped in their shops and said bye. The man and woman who run the little store that is filled with eastern pickles, sauces, lemongrass and kefir lime leaves and who have the happy meat and lovely sushi. They told me to travel safe and come back. The pet shop owner who thanked me for telling her so that she didn't spend time wondering whatever happened to me and then shared stories of emigrating and returning. She wished me luck.

I left a note for Carol of the Fish and Chips. She is off on Tuesdays as Dee and I discovered a couple of weeks ago. I had to have one more serving of the good stuff before I left. I was doubly blessed because the sun warmed the outdoor patio to about 20 centigrade and I was alone to watch the comings and goings of the Howe Sound Queen.

And I finally found Jana's. She owns my shop. High quality, terrifically executed baked sweets and savouries. Small batch, leaning toward the healthy. I enjoyed my cake and coffee while listening to the conductor, the bassoonist and a choral member laugh and chat about Sunday's concert. Right there, next to me. It may not have been hanging out in a hotel room in Ann Arbor with Steve Forbert, but they didn't smash the chandelier and rip down the curtains either.

So being Tuesday, I have an early and long day tomorrow. Time to call it a day. No "X" on the calendar, no tears on the pillow. There are still trails to hike and whales to watch and I need to be on the top of my game; balls forward and pores open.

PS. Nettle stings do not plump up your lips though they do make them quiver.