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Hey Friend,
Instead of welcoming you on the next wonder adventure, I find myself 35000 feet in the air, somewhere between Dubai and Brussels, writing my father's eulogy.
He passed away unexpectedly yesterday.
It's a different type of Kairos time than I was hoping and planning for, but here I am. Flying from Spring into Autumn and bypassing Summer altogether.
On the flight from Sydney to Dubai the mystery dealt me the extraordinary hand of sitting next to a father and daughter on their way to the World Cup in France.
My dad and I went to a World Cup in France once; it's one of my favourite memories. By answering the dreaded question of where I was headed, they got a sob-shaped free reminder to start their victory laps early.
My dad was the king of victory laps. He did not hesitate to soak up every last bit of life he possibly could. His patch of grass was assuredly the greenest and he'd let you know about it (15 times a day if you weren't careful).
He worshiped my mum (understandable, if you know her); they had a true love story of the ages. His art was to savour the simple things in life with such gusto it was contagious for everyone lucky enough to cross his path. He would leave love notes throughout the house. He was nothing if not committed to his art.
He was one of those 'larger than life' people that managed to stay humble. Aways a glisten in his eye, a bottomless joke repository at the ready.
I can keep going but I came here to let you know that I'm pausing A Week of Wonder to grieve, to be with my mum as she transitions into a life without her soulmate, to cry me a river and to listen to all the stories about my dad I haven't yet heard.
When the day comes to pick up the thread again, I'll let you know!
Until then, I'll leave you with the legacy of the legendary Ivo Vandersmissen:
Keep both feet on the ground, a joke at the ready and an unwavering commitment to your choice of pasture.
With Love,
Nele
Ā
PS
Keep the journey alive- use what's there as a springboard and keep exploring.Ā I'm still loving seeing your photos and posts. In a way, all of this is his legacy too.
PPS
I've since arrived in Belgium and my mom and I have become edge-dwellers. Meaning we wander at dawn and at dusk. We're finding my father in everything and allowing the landscape he loved so dearly to bring us solace. It is. I've shared some photos below.
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