June 19, 2021

Blue sky glowed to the west as warm rays of sun bounced off the waves in the distance. The shining reflection off the ocean filled my being with a sensation of freshness and glory.  I stood at the railing of the huge vessel and watched the water cruise by.

My wife and I were talking about going on a boat ride; we never expected it to be on the ferry to Vancouver Island.

That morning my phone rang. It was Louise, my birth mom. “Hello, how are you?” I asked.

“Not so good, I got my results… Liver Cancer.” Just like that, it was out there. Cancer, the big C. I felt stunned and wasn’t sure how to respond.

Profanity felt right at that moment. “Shit that sucks.” I paused for a breath, and said the stupid thing most people say in those moments, “How are you feeling?” Like she would be feeling good…

“All things considered I am OK I guess.” 

“I am in Vancouver right now I wonder how the reality would be to meet at the ferry?” I wasn’t sure but it felt like a stretch. Of course, somehow I thought she would come to my side of the ferry.

“Ya that could work – we would pick you up at the ferry landing.” Louise seemed uplifted by the idea. 

“Well it is a long way for an afternoon, the ferry is over an hour and a half ride.’ My mind tumbled at the prospect. I wanted to go see her; we were as close as we were going to be in a while. But a trip to the island wasn’t in the plans. 

But we did want to go for a boat ride.

Friday night we went to bed talking about renting a kayak. A kayak would take far too long to cross the Georgia Straight… I looked at the ferry schedule and looked at my honey. “Do you think we can make the 11:00 am ferry?” 

Puzzled Krista looked back at me, “the ferry? You want to go to the Island?”

I nodded. “Yes, that was Louise on the phone, she has cancer…” I looked at my wife. At that moment we both knew we had to go.

So there we were on the ferry going from Tsawwassen to Schwartz Bay. It was a nice boat ride. 

Time passed quickly as the waves rolled by. The islands that line the Georgia Straight are dotted with homes large and small. Every time I have ridden the ferry I see those houses and wonder what life would be like on those isolated islands. Time must slow down when it takes such a long time to even go to a grocery store. At the same time, hundreds of people pass by every hour or so all day long. It would be a different existence, not one I could live. I don’t think…

Louise and Betty-Rose awaited our arrival at the pick-up for the ferry. We knew that walking on was the only real guarantee to make the 11 am crossing. With travel opening up the ferry was full and getting on was not ensured. I wanted to make sure we would get there.

Sidney, BC is a beautiful spot to have lunch on a sunny afternoon. It was great to connect with the two ladies as we watched the ripple of the ocean current flow by the windows of the restaurant. We wanted to sit on a patio but not surprisingly they were full. 

Connections. That is what life is about. For those few hours, we managed to connect with some people we love. It was good to show support and just be there, even if it was just for an afternoon.

The return boat ride was a relaxing way to spend our time and I have no regrets. If we hadn’t gone, I would have regretted it. Fate was in our favour and I have an even better memory of a boat ride and a road trip to the Pacific coast. I pray that I get many more visits with my Mom and she can beat the insidious enemy she faces.