...the tsunami

2010 - what a glorious year - Steve and I decided quite early on to take the summer off work and explore the Orkney Isles...... we had our eye on a little caravan and camping park which was for sale on Westray and we got sufficiently excited about it that we arranged to visit the island and spend some time getting to know the area. Steve and I had owned a holiday park on the west coast of Scotland some years earlier and had always regretted selling it - we loved the freedom and independence of being self employed and absolutely adored meeting, greeting and making welcome our guests who chose to stay on our wee holiday park. So, anticipating wonderful things and a possible change of lifestyle, we set off on our adventure.....not knowing the time bomb that was ticking away inside Steve's chest -  thank God for his mercies.  We had a great summer - explored 1001 beaches, planned, strategised and enjoyed our time immensely during those months with a closeness and intimacy borne of our many years together.
However, in November Steve started to feel unwell and after many visits to the GP and numerous scans and a liver biopsy in January 2011 he was finally diagnosed with 'non curable' lung cancer which had spread into his bones and liver.
We were absolutely devastated when we were told - our kids (34 and 36 years - well, they are still your kids!) were with us on the journey right from that very time - and it felt as if someone had twisted my gut and pulled my heart out of its position.  Our world had collapsed and we could not believe nor come to terms with what we had been told.  Surely, it was just a nightmare - surely we would wake up - surely there was some medication, or some treatment somewhere that would put things right.
Standing from my 'now' position I am amazed how unbelief can block out and deny the facts.  We were desolate - yet still were able to sit as a family and discuss the news that had been given to us.
Not long afterwards the Japanese tsunami occurred - a tragedy of great magnitude - but I could not help but compare it with what seemed to be our own tsunami - one which had swept over and devastated our own lives.