Ferried to love

Hello South Island. The peaks are so much bigger. I was just beginning to take the North Island beauty for granted. I wouldn't be stunned every morning and evening. Then, I got on a ferry and headed for some crazy craziness.

The ferry motored itself into the sound just like nothing. Just like it should be everyone's experience to watch dolphins dance you into a world of turquoise waters like glass meeting up with sharp drop mountains of pine. But I couldn't contain myself. As the dolphin jumped next to me, I exclaimed. "Sweet!" "It is, eh" is the reply from the Kiwi next to me. "Must be good luck" This Kiwi is on his way to Christchurch after the quake. His family is there. They are all ok. But he is heading down to lend a hand.

The whole island down here is rumbled with after effect. There is petrol shortage. We don't know how far we can go until it runs out. And a visit to the grocery today met us with empty shelves and signs that things will be out of stock due to the earthquake.

I have been getting messages from folks back home wanting to know if I'm ok. Just a few, though. I am in close enough contact with most that they know I'm no where near.

The contact queen.

Speaking of, I met more cool folks today. From oregon wisconsin something. Yup. Movers.

And there was Anna, the barefoot runner from Wellington. And the Wellington family who made us family for a short time.

Contacts. I feel a thousand miles from the first experience here. The British boy who allowed me to play with him as much as I liked. The pig hunters, those who aim their rifle right out the window of the truck, against their mate's chest. The man with the sweet dog who picked me up when he hugged me.

Tonight, I stay in Nelson, the sunny city on the north coast of the south island. I am in a backpacker's, and it's the best one I've seen. I'm dazzled, just like the lonely planet guide said I would be. Just finishing a glass of red wine and listening to people discuss the downfalls of drug use. I always tend to think people who say such things have no idea what they are talking about. Like someone who has never had butter melted on fresh warm bread waxing on about the dangers of saturated fat.

I think it's time to head off to sleepy land.

Believe me, I have never loved you more. You are not far at all. You are my insulation. Without you I would be shivering. You are the leaping I do to a great tune, you are the sigh I breathe at the sight of Marlborough Sounds from the mountain top.

And look, they are playing Bon Iver. Love songs.

So, while they play, I kiss you on the face until you are giggling. Then we'll touch noses like the Maori do and breathe the same air.

Goodnight.