Sharing Days
Ray and I shared most of our trip with our traveling companions Garth and Terry, but both couples took off on our own sometimes, too. Our day in Halifax, Nova Scotia, was one of those “take off on our own” days. As penny counters, during our entire trip Ray and I purchased only one shore excursion sold by the cruise ship. We enjoyed getting ideas from theirs and orchestrating excursions of our own.
Ray and I decided to rent a car in Halifax, so we could drive to two nearby attractions: Peggy’s Cove, advertised as one of the most photographed spots in Canada (or North America, depending on what you are reading), and Lunenberg, an historic town that UNESCO has designated as a World Heritage Site, a designation similar to a National Historic Site in the U.S.
As we filled out paper work at the Enterprise rental car counter in the train station, a couple we had never met sat behind us, waiting their turn. “I wonder if they would like to share a car,” I thought. Almost immediately, and before I said a word, the man asked us if we would like to share a rental. Thus began a delightful day with Phil and Vicki from Australia.
Because Phil and Vicki are used to driving on the left side of the road and because Ray is great at guiding us to where we need to go, we agreed that I would drive, Ray would sit in the front seat beside me, and Phil and Vicki would ride in the back seat.
The rental car company hadn’t realize that the first ship of the season was coming in that day, so they had very little available. Our only choice was this Wrangler Jeep, which they gave us for a great price — and we only had to pay our half. I loved driving my first Jeep.
A local woman assured us that the morning fog was typical and would likely lift. It did lift for a short while that afternoon, but we got to see Peggy’s Cove the same way the locals do sometimes — in the mist.
I am confident that the barren rocks . . .
. . . and waves . . . 
. . . and lighthouse . . .
. . . of Peggy’s Cove are beautiful in the sunshine, but we learned that they are beautiful in the fog, too.
Lunenberg is a colorful town, established as a planned British colonial settlement in 1753. UNESCO has designated it a world heritage site because it has maintained the original layout and appearance for 250 years.
Phil, Vicki, Ray, and I shared not only our day and our rental car fare; we shared our stories. We learned that Phil was born in 1951, Ray in 1952, I in 1953, and Vicki in 1954. Phil and Vicki relish being grandparents; we relish being grandparents. They have a granddaughter born just three days after our youngest grandson Peter. They have a daughter Claire; we have a granddaughter Clara.
Phil and Vicki are of German heritage. Their Lutheran ancestors came to Australia from Germany to escape religious persecution many years ago. We know one person in Germany, our friend who is a missionary in Leipzig. One of Vicki’s relatives has done genealogical research and found a long-lost distant cousin whom Phil and Vicki have been to visit. Guess where she lives? That’s right — Leipzig!
Queen Elizabeth of England is also the queen of Canada and Australia. Phil told us that his mother is a royalist. He is named after Queen Elizabeth’s husband, Prince Philip.
I’m thankful that Phil and Vicki were brave enough to ask two Americans to share a car and a day and sweet memories with them. Little did we know we would find so much common ground. It’s fun to know that another family on the opposite side of the world finds joy in ways that are similar to our own. Phil and Vicki are used to sharing. He is a volunteer for Meals on Wheels back home.
Sharing days is a precious gift. I’m thankful you are giving that gift to your children.
Through Him then,
let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God,
that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
And do not neglect doing good and sharing,
for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Hebrews 13:15-16
Thank you for sharing your journeying with us so we get to come along too. What a blessing.