After hiking and beaching and picking up hitch hikers with dogs, my car was a disaster. Had I returned it in that condition, I’d have been changed up the wazoo, so I took it to the car wash and by the time they were done with it, it looked brand-spanking-new! I still had some snacks left over, so I grabbed a coffee, cruised down to the beach, and took in one last view of the ocean while cutting up an apple with my swiss army knife and dipping it in peanut butter.
I very much enjoyed the drive back to Sixt, blasting tunes like Did my ring burn your finger, Weed instead of Roses, Desperado, & Childs Play. Returning the car was even easier than picking it up! The staff were efficient and friendly and I found out that I put 1250 miles on that car. Damn. They shuttled me back to the airport where I enjoyed a couple glasses of champagne before boarding.
The plane ride itself was uneventful, I sat next to a pleasant couple, watched Revenant, and suddenly I found myself back in Toronto, boarding the streetcar as a kind woman offered to help me with my suitcase. As I looked around, I saw all kinds of people of all different ethnicities, all chuckling as a passenger struggled with the hiccups, murmuring “sorry”’s and “pardon me”’s as they brushed past each other - boarding and exiting. I held back tears as I took in my surroundings - so happy to be home.
When I did finally get back to my apartment, I was greeted by a familiar face, James - who’d been house-sitting for me, and who had a bottle of wine, a joint, and flowers waiting for me. I’m a lucky girl :)