Purse Back!

Purse Back; safe and sound

En route: the ‘Soo to Winnipeg 

I got my purse back today. It was quite the event. I lost it a week or so ago. It’s hard to tell time when you’re living on the road. Living in the moment is my main concern. Well, especially now that all the city slicker-ness from my brief interlude in Toronto has finally worn out.

Let’s focus, back to the purse. After being on a bus for an unexpected amount of time due to Canadian winter roads, we passengers were told that we were to wait inside the Thunder Bay terminal as the bus needed to be cleaned. Even though the bus driver said we could leave stuff on our seats I couldn’t help but take my small backpack containing my laptop and my I Love PEI bag full of books. It’s not that I didn’t trust my fellow traveling buddies but more so that I had no idea how long we would be stranded at the terminal and thought I may want to work a bit, read, or share my books with others.

One of my “bus friends” asked if I wanted to go for a walk and I said sure. I’m always up for adventures, big or small. I thought I would dig into my book bag and only bring my small hand purse along. I couldn’t find it. I assumed I had left it on the bus. Not wanting to cause any commotion I didn’t bother asking to re-enter the bus figuring it had only dropped out of my bag and was hiding under my seat safe and sound.

When we were all back on the bus I tried looking under the seats. It was nowhere to be found. I didn’t bother panicking anyone. The El Salvadorian kids in front of me caught on I was looking for something and tried to help but their eyes and mine found nothing. I decided to bring attention to the bus driver and slowly but surely more people found out. Here’s what they had to say:

Bus driver: Oh no. This is a big deal. Let me do this, this and this.

Musician guy: You know it’s not only money you need to worry about.

Musician guy #2: Someone can steal your identity.

Sweet girl sitting next to me: Do you need any money?

Bus friend: Would you like me to pay for your apple and orange? Here’s some hummus.

Blue haired woman: Maybe it slid to the front of the bus.

Pregnant Mom with her adorable son: That’s too bad. We’ll find it.

My thoughts:

It’s not the end of the world. I still have 3 dollars on me. My cousin is picking me up in Winnipeg and will insist on feeding me. I still have my passport and my Discovery pass. The purse will find its way back to me when the time is right.

Then, the time came to share the mishap with some people that would genuinely worry:

Cousin Pete: Do you need money? You need to cancel your cards.

Dad: That’s too bad. You have to be careful.

Great Aunt: Oh dear. I’m sure it’ll come back.

Sisters: Typical Joce, and of course you’re keeping positive.

 

I had just spent over 30 hours hopping on and off a bus, having a fantastic time:

 

Looking at books with a warm hearted four year old boy named Jake

Listening to stories

Staring out into the beauty of Canada

Sharing a few stories

Eaves dropping on other peoples realities

Reading

Thinking

 

Journey over, I felt great. I was in my cousin’s home which almost immediately felt like my own. My cousin offered me a hot drink, I chose a café latte. Offered me some food, I chose some soup and toast. Offered me his phone to call my credit card company, I explained my card was expired anyway and that I would deal with the mishap in the morning.

After a good night’s rest, a shower, and breakfast I called my credit card company and after being transferred from voice to voice a friendly lady helped me cancel the card. My cousin’s wife and two amazing kids brought me to the bank where I was able to get a new debit card.

My travels continued. I tried calling Greyhound to try and track it. I still believed that my purse would be found. I was hoping that it could be found sooner than later and somehow catch up with me on the Greyhound but had faith that if that didn’t happen than the person that found it would send it to my Prince Edward Island address.

While visiting an old high school sweetheart couple from my hometown, who recently just had a beautiful baby boy, I checked my facebook. One of my sister’s began talking to me on the chat and said that she was currently on the phone with our Dad and that Greyhound had indeed found my purse! My first thought was, “How did they get my father’s phone number?” My sister gave me a name and number to call. I did and was told that they had tracked the number by an old check my father had written me a couple of years ago. I had never cashed the check because I’m stubborn and like to do everything on my own. I carried it along with me because it was nice to see my Dad’s hand writing from time to time. My Chilean woven purse had been found with my wallet and everything in it! I was so happy I began jumping around, dancing, and having that moment of “I’m so happy I could cry!” and cried! The world really is full of good people.

 

My friend was there to witness the reunion of my purse and I. He insisted on photographing the event! I really felt like a child on Christmas morning.

Shoelace Mishap!

Cousin Michelle (à Barney) dropped me at the Toronto Greyhound station. As I walked away I tripped over Christie Collins’ untied laces (I’m wearing her winter boots out to her in BC) and completely wiped out. It was a head first sort of superhero dive. I was able to land on my chest and shoulders sort of protecting my head. My pack, which wasn’t buckled down flew over my head and I got tangled into it. I had to take my arms out, which required a type of flopping fish movement, and push the back pack up over my head.  Three people rushed over asking if I was OK and helped me replace the stuff that had fell out of my market bag: my hockey skates and a binder. I laughed and laughed. Poor cousin Michelle drove away asking if I was OK. And I gave her the under water scuba diver OK which I guess is the same sign as excellent food or if you happen to be in Korea money. She drove away with a horrified look on her face but I certainly hope she laughed once I was out of sight. I know most people would think “OMG, I’m such a loser” but somehow these were my first thoughts “Yes! What a way to start! This is going to be a Great Trip!” By me completely humiliating myself I was able to laugh and get the help of complete strangers. It just felt so genuine. It’s always refreshing to know that there is so much good in the people of this world. I know had it been someone who really knows me they would have been kneeled over laughing with tears in their eyes over my mishap. Actually, I’m quite certain that Cousin Michelle must still be laughing about it. I always have a story and it’s often the most humiliating ones that are the most humorous to share. Sure all this could have been avoided.  I could have not stayed out late the night before, slept a few more hours, and tied Christie’s laces properly but then where would the story be? It’s the funny ones that make this game called life so amusing.

 

Moral of the story: Even for short distances you really should do up the buckles of your pack, please learn from my mistake. Those of you who don’t normally back pack your life around with you translate this to using seatbelts. Better safe than sorry.

Intro to Joce's world!

For years I’ve been writing. For years people have told me to publish my work. For years I’ve fought my family, friends, teachers, even random strangers, telling them “someday” I’ll publish my work. My procrastination is finally over. Here I am. A simple Acadian Island girl, who finds beauty in what most consider being normal and mundane. I’ve traveled far to find my stories and somehow the story I always keep closest to my heart is the one that I grew up in a small French town on beautiful Prince Edward Island. I was teased by my family and friends growing up but teased in a good way. The people that laugh with you and not at you are the people you should always keep around. They would say “To make a short story long ask Jocelyn Ann Gallant à le raconter”.  I was an exaggerator as a child and it’s that imagination that has carried me throughout this entire world. The funny part is that I no longer have to stretch the truth to tell an amazing story. Don’t get me wrong, if we’re all seated around a fire and someone tells me to tell them a story I can’t help but call on my imagination. If I write it down though, it’s the truth. Keep in mind that the future is still not here so anything found in the future folder can and very well will, change. If I’m planning a trip and I tell someone about it, the people who know me will casually ask, is the ticket bought? My current ticket is a Greyhound Discovery Pass. It’s good for 30 days of travel within Canada and the States. (Although I’m pretty sure it’s being discontinued, which is a story all in itself.) My goal is to make it to Beautiful British Colombia in time for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Along the way, I’m meeting up with long lost friends and family members whom I’m realizing were never really lost at all. They were always here waiting for my visit and I for theirs. Except my homes have been scattered a bit everywhere, la Région Évagéline, Charlottetown, Banff, Guelph, Summerside, Victoria, Waterloo, Korea, Toronto, or somewhere between here and there. This is my cross Canada trip of a lifetime. I hope you enjoy it along with me!