Here I roll … on the train out of Brussels towards Ghent – only forty minutes.  I’m going home.

I’ve recovered a lot from Saturday’s dancing.  Thirty-six hours later there’s still a residue of fatigue.  And I don’t care – I danced!

Now home on the Oudburg.  I slept for awhile.  I unpacked.  I washed my compression stockings.  I went back to bed.

My neighbour Dirk has left me two cards under the door.  The first is a bunch of people dancing.  He says I’m the one in the middle:

The second one says “Chapeau!”, congratulating me for my senior wiggling.  Thank you, Dirk.

Hunger has brought me to McDonald’s, the best I can do today.

I’m looking out the window at folks sitting on the terrace.  A dad is having his young kids pose for a picture.  They offer him thumbs up and big smiles.

St. Nicholas Church across the way reminds me of why I love Ghent … but the people far outshine the architecture. 

Right in front of me is a 30-something fellow and a woman who appears to be his mom.  She’s unsteady on her feet.  Her hair is really short.  Could it be it’s growing back after cancer radiation?  It looks like she’s having trouble swallowing her milkshake.  He stands close.  Few words between them but the contact is there.  Nice.

Five young boys amble by.  They’re kicking and shoving each other, grinning all the while.  Eventually they disappear beyond yonder building.  The shoves are still there.

***

Journey’s end

Thanks for coming along

Did I mention that sleep is a good thing?