It’s the little things, tiny things really, that tell me I’ve been accepted as a native rather than a CFA (come from away) in my community here in Newfoundland.
Today, a couple and I had been invited to another couple’s home for dinner - which is the midday meal here.
They tell me to drive to their place which is about halfway and they will drive the rest of the distance.
When I get into the back of their SUV, I find it is blanketed.
“Oh, they say, that’s for your dog, we thought you’d bring Ansa, we wanted her to feel at home in our car”.
We’re all on coffee and tea after we finish this fabulous meal of cod, potatoes, coleslaw and homemade carrot relish when the two women start teasing me about the china cups I’d used at my recent Nollaig na Mban and maybe I’d be getting too fancy now to use mugs. To much laughter, I gave as good as I got, saying I’d never be back again if I wasn’t served on the very best china.
All of this I observe through my new spectacles.
And I get a lump in my throat.
