And so it drags on…even as the end of all of this mayhem approaches, still more waiting. We waited through the weekend to pick up the visa in Vancouver on Monday at 2 p.m., only to discover upon arriving that due to a computer “glitch,” everyone’s visas hadn’t been processed, and they had no timeline for when this “glitch” would be solved. Hmph. At this point, staying seemed out of the question—one of the biggest problems being that since last Wednesday’s swimming expedition, my right ear has been clogged to the point of being infected now, and I have no recourse up here as far as insurance or doctors (we stopped at a clinic and were told that an ER visit would be about $1200—lovely). This is more irritating than anything—I sound to myself like I’m talking underwater, and my voice echoes loudly in my own head, but apparently, I’ve been talking more quietly to the outer world because of this, becoming barely audible. So much fun! Ibuprofen, vitamin C, and decongestants seem to be holding it somewhat at bay from getting any worse (as in my eardrum exploding, which I’ve had happen before).

So we left an express mail envelope at the consulate, and proceeded to journey across BC yet again, through snow (yes, snow in August) over the same pass that had snow back in May when we were at Skaha climbing. Some 10 hours later, we arrived here, at about 2 in the morning, completely exhausted from the week of chaos, moving around, sleeping in random spots and at random times, and feeling stressed and ready to be done. Jedi trotted out to greet us, at first bleary with sleep, but then with growing excitement, ending up sitting in my lap with his head in Kevin’s lap as we relaxed for a few minutes before heading to sleep ourselves.

What a strange week this has been for me, so totally not what I’m used to—not really any climbing, though we managed a couple of half-days at a local wall in Whistler, one to take beginners out (always fun to introduce loved ones to climbing when they actually enjoy it), and one to just do a few pitches on our own. I’ve eaten more sushi meals than I have in probably the last five years during the last five days. We watched UFC 118 at a bar on a big-screen television. Went swimming. Went to a weightlifting gym last Friday, and put in a long workout, which resulted in insane soreness from dead-lifting and bench presses—two exercises I haven’t been able to do at home with exercise bands. Finally today, I don’t feel sore. Went Frisbee golfing. Made sushi. Went to the beach, walked around a city, drove around a city, and drove across BC twice.

I’m eagerly anticipating a resurgence of my more normal life now, but again, waiting, waiting, waiting. At this point, though, patience is the only option, and I am grateful to feel that the end of all of this disorder and turmoil is near, and that soon enough, I’ll be back living in my normal world, the world of climbing, training, writing, and laughing with friends. If nothing else, this experience has really hammered home how much I appreciate and enjoy my regular routine and way of being, in body, mind, and soul.