Sébastien’s in Winnipeg!

I forgot my camera. In the back of my mind, before I left, I thought about bringing it, but that thought fell out, somewhere between remembering my purse, and fixing my hair. So, my Prince and I went out for an anniversary date. I was well enough for that… even though I’d taken a completely justifiable day off from work to catch up on a bad night of sleep and chase away a menacing cold that attacked me by surprise. And on our way home, or just before, I put on my best fawn eyes, and asked my husband of three years, if we couldn’t “just stop by real quick” at David and Jasmina’s house to see if they’d arrived safetly. He agreed. Mostly because he’s charming and partly because he’s used to my spontaneous and sometimes unreasonable requests. Though he did underline to me that I had a cold. “I know… I’ll stay away from Sébastien, or wear a mask and douse myself with hand sanitizer… and we won’t stay long. And,” I told him, “I want them to know we’re happy they’re home.” I sometimes try to make my case too hard, but the Prince doesn’t mind… though I’ve noticed he can tune out.

So, before going home, we went a little further and dropped in on the two travellers. David opened the door to us, precariously stepping over a stair guard that had been installed to keep the more-mobile-Sébastien from deciding to try something he didn’t have in Toronto… We stayed in the porch. Sébastien looked at us through the holes in the stair guard and put on a performance is if to say: “Jet-lag? What jet-lag?” He’d take his toes and touch his nose, declaring “phew”, always active, moving here and there, pulling at Po (the teletubbie), requesting his train. “It’s a whole new place full of different toys!” Grandma explained as we watched him turn about, asking for “Ma-ma”, pointing at toys, and we wanted to bound up the stairs and tussle his whispy hair, tease the small curls and tickle his neck with kisses. Of course, we didn’t. Instead, he’d tease us, taking his arm, and blowing raspberries into his elbow, seeing if we’d laugh at his joke.

“Sébastien! What does a cow do?” Jasmina asks.
“Moo”
“What does a dog do?”
“Arf”
“What does a cat do?”
“Miao”
“What does… a lion do?”
“Rar” and deciding it wasn’t fierce enough, Sébastien lifts his hands beside his face, curling his fingers like claws and does a much more guttural “Roar”. We laugh and clap and Sébastien smiles, basking in the attention of a new audience.

The stair guard had been removed by now, and I asked Jasmina how Sébastien reacted to the flight. “He loved it!” she answered. They’d prepared him for the airplane, building his anticipation for a month before yesterday. Jasmina took pictures, and the attendants had him visit the cockpit. He looked like the happiest traveller I’d ever seen, sitting by the window, with Dora at his side, smiling up at the camera.

So, yes, they’ve arrived in Winnipeg safe and sound. Hooray for holidays and visits and friends… We’re hoping they have a relaxing stay and no medical surprises!