People buy all kinds of trinkets and items for souvenirs on their travels. Magnets, postcards, t-shirts, hats, bumper stickers and so on. On my trip to Madeline Island, my souvenir was Diane.
My first full day on the island found me at the beach. I decided to go for a walk down the mile and a half shore line. Sitting on a sundried, washed up log was Diane and her husband. Her shoes and socks were off and her feet played in the cool sand with childlike demeanor. Instantly, I had been drawn in by her warm smile and the sincerity in her words.
Our age difference had been noticeable but the differences ended there. She had children; I have children. Like me, she would talk about her kids, endlessly. Her love for her children ran deep. I figured this out by the conversations we had over the course of the next few days. Every time she would talk of them her face would light up, a smile grew and her eyes glimmered.
Diane had a passion for camping, we were two peas in a pod. We had camped in many of the same state parks in both Michigan and Wisconsin, not to mention both of us had camped in the same national parks. One of her favorite places on earth just happened to be mine, Madeline Island.
Of course, we loved the same foods, agreed family was everything and Diane knew exactly where I lived. She had peddled her bike right down the trail that cuts through my farm! (Small world)
I stood there talking with her and her husband for over an hour. It was Diane, however, who gave me a fuzzy feeling, mixed with warm and cozy on the insides. Her words were full of kindness and well thoughts. Her soul overflowed with sweetness.
Over the course of our stay, I would stop in at their campsite and visit. On one such visit I found out they would be heading to Yellowstone. No big deal you might think? Right? Well guess what….we are traveling to Yellowstone almost at the same time. We talked it out and realized that there might be just one day of overlap on our stays. We were both giddy with the hope of seeing each other again.
My final visit had been the last night of our stay on the island. She offered me a beer and like two old friends we sat around and talked together. As darkness crept in, it brought the bugs so I decided it had been time for me to head back to camp. I hesitated and stalled my departure as long as I could. The constant onslaught of mosquitos finally won over. Then a thought came to me.
I rushed back to my camp and wrote down my contact information. My feet light as they carried me back one last time. I handed the small piece of paper torn from my planner to her. I could feel the tears start to warm in my eyes. I blubbered, “I just need to give you a hug.” I didn’t have to pull her in with much effort. She welcomed the embrace.
With a twinge of sadness, I said a finally good-bye and walked back to campsite number 14.
I have no idea if we will have a chance to meet up in Yellowstone or ever again. It doesn’t matter. In my heart, Diane will always be a friend of mine. The best souvenir ever.
Chris Writes 