Day 106: Happy Birthday To Me - 17km

Wendy & Brian’s in Massey to Dianne’s in Spanish

The night before my birthday was weird. Had the room to myself. A closed door to sit in how I was feeling. Reflecting on a year passed. 23. I think it will be a year, an age, that changed my life. The biggest change was cutting out alcohol. No one talks much openly about alcohol and addictions. For me, I didn’t consider it one. I was 23, I was bartending 2 jobs and waitressing one. Alcohol is everywhere. All your friends are drinking. I wouldn’t have even considered it until my acting teacher told me I should try one month without alcohol. I protested immensely, since it would be from December 3rd to January 3rd, therefore missing out on two MAJOR holidays, christmas and new years. But it’s changed my life. I wanted to go for a year. A year sober and single. Taking out those distractions has forced me to look at myself, who I am, who I want to be. So in my looking back on what has changed this past year, a lot has changed. I never thought I’d be riding my horse across Canada with my little sister and my big brother, and I never thought I could have gone 8 months without drinking.

It was such a part of my lifestyle, social life, and my job, I didn’t think life would be the same without it. It’s not. I often feel like I’m missing out, or other people are having more fun, fit in more easily. But I know that’s not the case. It’s incredible that people do this their whole life, cut out drinking completely. In your early twenties it feels sometimes like all life is about is partying. This trip has shown me otherwise. The people I’ve met have shown me new, different experiences, different ways of life.

In the morning, when I woke up after a restless sleep, my sister came in and hugged me happy birthday, and after my brother. I love that, before your even out of bed, feeling loved and special. Then I checked my phone, there was a video with my younger brother’s face on it. I pressed play and was immediately happy. Though it cut in out with the spotty wifi, my heart filled with joy. I started crying when Katherine came on the screen, videos of when she just came to visit. All these people, from all over the world, and Canada, wishing me happy birthday. The common thing people kept saying was ‘inspiring’. And here I am, completely inspired by all these people who took the time to wish me happy birthday. Its a funny thing to hear people say you inspire them. Here I was, last night especially, struggling. The last week has been a struggle. Getting out of bed, falling asleep, riding, packing, everything has felt extra difficult. I feel anything but inspiring.

Every single persons wishes, thoughts and kind remark were reason enough to continue, and continue positively. It was exactly what I needed. Everyone telling me they were proud, and believed in us. If theres one thing I’ve learned on this trip, it’s that I can’t do everything on my own, we can’t. And I needed all these people that felt inspired by us, to in turn support and inspire me. It’s incredible what we can do for one another, and how far a kind gesture goes.

We set out, within 10 minutes it started to rain. It was a cold, windy and foggy day. But it was my birthday, so we didn't care. It felt special, more fun somehow. Joseph also hadn't rode with us for a while, so it was fun to have him with us. He had bought a micky of Forty Creek Whisky, which is brewed in Grimsby, and him and Jewel split it. Although it was hardly 11am when they started, it made the day feel like a party. Joseph played music from his speaker and we all jammed and even enjoyed ourselves in the rain.

It grew colder though, and just as the rain really started to come down we made it to Diane's at Little Red Ranch. Wendy dropped off our stuff, and we soon showered and warmed up with coffee and dry clothes. Then I heard another car pull up.. Connie, Kendra, and Corie where there! They drove an hour from Nairn Centre to bring me homemade soup, gifts, and carrot cake cup cakes! I couldn't believe it. I was so surprised, and it was so nice to see familiar faces.

We moved out to the garage, where they opened up bags of balloons, set the table, and even lit candles for my birthday! It was the sweetest gesture, and totally made my day feel so special.

It rained the whole day, and Joseph, Jewel and I made popcorn and watched a movie squished into the slanted trailer. Definitely not what I expected my 24th birthday to be, but that's what made it so special, and definitely one I'll never forget. I felt so loved, and all the people that contributed to my birthday gave me everything I needed to finish off the trip.