Far over the boreal forest old
From Sturgeon hold past Athabasca road
We must away ere break of day
To reclaim our long departed home.
33 days. That’s how long it has been since we were evacuated from our home. 33 days since fire and smoke engulfed our city. 33 days since we fled not knowing when we would be back.
It has been a long road; the last month has been filled with uncertainty. Many of our lives have been put on hold and we have tried to make the most of our time away. Still, we always had that little nagging feeling in the back of our heads that something was never quite right. We have been patient and now the day has finally come – it is time to go home.
You’ll have you excuse me. I haven’t posted much in the last while and this entry won’t be very long. I am currently on the road typing this out on my phone as we inch closer and closer to Fort McMurray. I am excited, nervous and a whole array of other emotions all rolled into one. Despite reports over social media and the news, I still feel uncertain as to what to expect when we get there.
Even so, it is time go home. We packed up the car with what belongings we took with us, the dog and a few (more than a few) groceries and hit the road as soon as we were able to this morning. I can’t tell you how good it feels to be back on the move headed towards my city, my community, my friends and family. While it hasn’t been all that long since we left really, it feels like an eternity.
I will sign off now as we approach the city limits but I will check in again shortly. For now, I leave you with one simple message….
Home is where you can always return, no matter how long you’ve been gone.
See you soon Fort McMurray.
The CJBuzz 