I stayed in bed longer than usual today as well, but I feel like it's helping me recover faster. I decided that since it was super windy all day, I wouldn't go to the outdoor market with Ingrid and Brenda, but would rather stay home and take care of myself. At noon, D'Arcy and I took the dogs for a nice walk on the ocean shore. Of course, the wind was blowing there too, but I think it helped blow the cold out of me. There aren't many people around, and they let their dogs run free, because when they call them, they come back to their owners. Except for one. Of course, after a while, he comes back, but by then I've yelled myself red in the face. Yes, I know: "Then why do you let him go?" Because I can see how much he needs it, how much he enjoys running. With my mind's eye I can see him lying chained up at his second owner's house, and my heart breaks. I'd rather have a red face and a dry throat from shouting sometimes, but the happiness I see in him when I take off his leash... well, that's a miracle in itself. It's worth all the anxiety. I wasn't easy to deal with me as a teenager, so how can I expect anyone else to be perfect? But this time I didn't let him go, because D'Arcy is more worried about himt than I am, and I didn't want him to get upset.
When Ingrid and Brenda arrived home, we went to a nearby small town for lunch. There are many Dutch tourists in this area, who spend three, four, or even five months here, and of course, they already have their own restaurants. One of them is called "Amsterdam." Appropriate, right? Ingrid wanted to try the Dutch bitterballen, which are small fried meatballs. Her father was born in the Netherlands and emigrated to Canada at the age of 21, hence her Dutch roots and love of meatballs. I ate a large salad, but I had to try the bitterballen too. Delicious. Crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, pleasantly spicy.
In the evening, we walked down to the ocean to watch the sunset, carrying the Prosecco I got from Kata and Rita and four glasses. When we got to the beach, I let Gerbeaud loose. He threw himself into the dunes with great enthusiasm and didn't come out until we started heading home. This time he came when I called him. "Mummy, Mummy, I had a great run, look how I'm panting! Everything's okay, I'm here!" The others were worried, but I wasn't. I trusted him and I trust that what he gets from us; the way we live and experience life together, I think he would be very foolish to "leave" us.