Greetings from the North Shore! Boo has had a splendid week. This was his Nik’s Wish week. Nik was a young man who believed life should be lived with joy. He also believed that young adults with cancer should also get a wish trip. Most Make A Wish organizations only serve children, not young adults. Before he passed from cancer, Nik set up this foundation. His work is carried on by a tireless team of volunteers and philanthropists. This past week, Ravi’s wish came true.
Some young adults want to fly somewhere exotic. Others want to go to Disney Land. Boo’s wishes were much simpler. He wanted to visit a large body of water, he wanted to ride on a boat and a train, and he wanted to stay at a hotel with a pool and a hot tub. He got his wish. We spent 4 lovely days in Duluth. We rode a scenic train up the coastline while eating pizza. We went on a boat ride around the harbor and into Lake Superior, while eating chicken nuggets, bonus! Our hotel was lovely and backed right up to the lake. There were big ships, sailboats, and seagulls galore. The scene outside of our window was constantly changing. There was also a lovely pool and a hot tub. We spent several pleasant evenings floating about in the hot water. I am certain it felt very good to Ravi’s tired body.
His favorite activity by far was the pizza train. The train had a glass ceiling which provided an excellent view of the lake and the woods. There was yummy food to eat and a very festive atmosphere. At the end of the 2.5 hour, it was clear that Boo did not want to leave the train. He wanted to go on more adventures! We will definitely have to find more train rides for him. The boat ride was also a success. It was a bit chilly out on the water and Boo made a beeline for the sheltered snack bar. He happily munched snacks and peered out the windows. The lake was smooth as glass, so no one got seasick. Once again, he was sad to have the ride come to an end. We also went on a surrey ride. This is a 4 wheeled contraption where 2 people can pedal, and steer and the other person can sit in the middle and be rolled around like royalty. We were all crammed together on one seat with Boo in the middle. It was a bit crowded for 3 adults but we made it work. Robert and I provided the leg power, I steered as Robert’s steering wheel did not work, and we spent a good hour wheeling around the lake shore. We had to dodge a lot of other bikers and pedestrians, but a good time was had by all. When we returned the surrey, we found a candy store nearby. We filled a bag with treats and retreated to a nearby bench. Ravi happily devoured gummi bears while I discovered that chocolate covered cherries are the bomb!
The final day of our trip we went to the beach. I had hoped that this would be the grand finale for Boo’s trip, but he had other ideas. He woke up early that day and was in fine form. He ate a good breakfast and was quite interactive. We packed up the car and headed out for the shore. In the car he ran out of energy and fell asleep. By the time we got to the beach he was sound asleep. He was not happy to be roused from his slumbers when we arrived. One way or another, Robert and I propelled him out of the car and hiked the 400 yards to the beach. Boo does not have a lot of stamina and walking through deep sand is hard work. By the time we reached the shoreline he was exhausted. I had plans to get some Christmas card pictures of Boo frolicking on the shore, but all I got were 3 pictures of Boo burying his head in Robert’s tummy and trying to go back to sleep! Robert skipped rocks and I admired the shore. After a few brief but soul satisfying moments, we headed back to the car. Ravi slept all the back to the Twin Cities. All in all, it was a great respite, and I am eternally grateful for the wonderful folks at Nik’s Wish for making Ravi’s wishes come true. Thank you all for coming along for the ride. Be good humans. Peace, Harriet.
Harriet's Hedgehogs and Autism Advocacy 