You Are Not Home Yet

You may have had a shower, washed your clothes and even had a shave of your expedition beard or leg hair but until you feel the familiar flow of the shower in your bathroom, see your weathered face in its mirror and slip on clothes that have not been worn every day for a month, you are not quite done.

Perhaps you have eaten to satiety and pushed on through dessert until those desperate rations are but a distant memory but until you have bought your favourite foods on your weekly shop at your local store, you cannot truly say that you are back.

The weather may no longer be such a significant factor in your day. Rain may simply make a noise on your hotel window where previously it had soaked your tent and numbed your fingers but unless that rain forms puddles in the pavement outside your office, you are still in a foreign land.

The town to which you have returned may feel familiar because you passed through it on your way into the field. Perhaps you can find your way from the place you are staying to the best stocked supermarket or that cheap restaurant where you had your pre-departure meal. But that does not compare to a childhood memory for every street, lane and road you walk down. It is not even the same as being able to read the road signs.

You reached your summit, conquered your pass, ran your river and hugged, slapped and high-fived your teammates at the end of it all but if you have not felt the warm arms of a loved one encompass you at the front door of your own bricks and mortar then let me remind you that you are not home yet.