Familiar Strangers flying to Christchurch
February 27th, 2009I was waiting at Pearson International Airport in Toronto to catch my flight to LAX. I was breathing relief for I was through all checkpoints, and had only to wait and board my flight. Naturally, I searched for a spot in waiting area that was in direct sunlight.
The middle-aged gentleman across from me was dressed in a fashion that put me at ease, from MEC hikers through to a proper wide-brimmed hat. I said nothing but smiled. A few moments later, his wife arrived with an armful of food, sandwiches, milk, etc. Somewhere along the way, she had picked up an Axe shampoo sampler. Her husband joked his close shaven head had little need of such a thing, but perhaps the young man might do better with it, attracting young ladies and what not. I smiled and declined.
A little while later, while her husband had stepped away, I began chatting with the wife. Idle traveller chatter. It was a beautiful day. Excited to go. Get away from the snow. Where about are you headed? New Zealand? Get out. So are we. Where in New Zealand? Christchurch? Get out. So am I.
They were taking their first vacation upon retirement. Six weeks of hiking in and around the Christchurch area. They had been encouraged to come specifically to Christchurch because their daughter and son in law had lived here for a few years studying landscape architecture at Lincoln. My brother in law is studying landscape architecture at Lincoln.
As the conversation unfolded, I mentioned that I had studied Drama at Queen’s. Would I know Janelle so-and-so? The name didn’t mean anything to me, but she pulled out a photograph and I recognized her face. I think we may have shared a course in Canadian Dramaturgy. She is their daughter-in-law.
I mentioned making music in New Zealand, and how I had been torn between risking travel with my acoustic guitar or trying to find something here. Her eyes lit up. She had had the same dilemma and had decided to buy a junker guitar here. She plays and sings folk music, and loves to play for children.
And as I sit here now, I am a little envious of their rented car and camping equipment. I would love to be by a camp fire right now. If you read this folks, please drop me a line. I’ll bring my junker and we can keep the shadows back with more wood on the fire, and a song on our lips.
Gord and Pam, I hope you have a great vacation. It was a pleasure to meet you.
Tags: New Zealand
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