Moment of Reflection

We wake up early for our good-byes, send our stuff to Doorn with the contingent headed there by car, and then walk through the rain to a diamond dealer for my sister, who we count on to make all our jewelry, and to the Anne Frank house for the kids, by way of some souvenir store. I head to a coffeehouse for a few moments alone with my thoughts (translation: I was feeling grumpy…I will spare you my tirade about overpriced souvenirs we still can’t seem to resist) and then stroll through the north market looking at vintage books and records. A small embossed silver box catches my eye, and presto, I’ve bought Polly a souvenir too.

We all get together at a café for lunch, watch ourselves eating in the mirrors and then head to the Centraal Station for the train to Doorn. The last time on a train was to and from the hospital for Polly, and I am chastened by how easily things can go wrong in even the easiest and most comfortable of circumstances. Our bicycle trip is over, but there’s another week to our journey and we adjust our sights to that.

Moment of Reflection

Amsterdam, Netherlands