Norway in November

Sadaf Arif

“Do you want to go to Norway with Caravan Tales?”  he asks.  

I am hesitant.  Norway in November?  It will be too cold.  It’s too far.  It will be too hard.  But these are excuses.  In reality we had just lost our beloved son the year before.  Was I ready for this?  I’ll never be ready.   The grief and pain will always be present.  As I try to navigate life after this immense loss, I don’t want to move forward, I want time to stand still.   However, I consider what I have in front of me - a man who loves me, who is alive, and who wants to go on an adventure with me.  

So off we go.  My husband and I, my brother, and my lovely niece set out to explore the arctic and meet new people.   My beautiful Sharjeel was an adventurer, a world traveler.   As we embark on this journey, I bring Sharjeel’s light with me.   He had a great appreciation for Allah’s creations.   His travel albums contain endless scenic views of nature.  As we watch the majestic whales in the deep ocean, tour the fjords, and capture the beauty of the Aurora Borealis, my Sharjeel is with me in my heart.  I feel a connection to him and an appreciation for his love of travel.   My fellow travelers grow to love Sharjeel though they never met him.  With my husband by my side, and with my lovely travel companions, I allow a bit of joy to sit alongside the pain.