Just in case the reader doesn’t know Murphy’s Law, it’s: anything that can go wrong will go wrong, the corollary, at the worst possible time.

I had not seen my youngest grandson, Andrew, since his sister’s wedding in 2002. It was now June, 2007, and I decided that I would like to have a visit with him. He lives in Edgewater Gardens, a long-term care facility in Dunnville, Ontario. But could I get there by bus?  I thought if I could, I would go for a weekend, from Friday to Monday. I would have to find a place to stay and someplace where I could get meals. Then, when I was chatting with him on Google chat one evening, he told me that there’s a room right in the facility that I could rent, and I could get my meals there for $5.00 each. That was the best bargain I could wish for. We could spend all day, every day, together, instead of me having to go from wherever I found a room to Edgewater, which would waste a lot of time.

So he helped make the arrangements, and I started organizing. Friday, June 10^th rolled around – a notable day; my oldest great-grandson’s second birthday, and the day I would leave for my weekend with Andrew. All was ready, great-nephew Kim arrived and I gave him my keys, as he would check up on the apartment while I was gone, and be there when I returned on Monday. He helped me get my luggage down to the sidewalk where I hailed a cab, and off I went.

All went well, I made it to the terminal in plenty of time, the bus trip was comfortable, but very slow. We were supposed to be in Niagara Falls, where I would transfer to the Dunnville bus, by 4:10 p.m. It was about ten to five when we pulled in – just time to run to the washroom and still make the connection. That’s when Murphy stepped in. The driver took my ticket, looked at it, and asked “How are you going to get back to the Falls on Monday?” “On this bus,” I said. He shook his head sadly and told me “This bus only runs on Fridays!”

I stared at him in shock, thoughts rushing through my head – what should I do? Just turn around and go home? No way!  I got on the bus, settled in, and worried. The trip was smooth, my seat mate was a friendly young woman, and even using the washroom wasn’t too scary. Though it is good that the room is so small – you can bounce off walls, but you can’t fall.

I got off the bus at Dunnville’s one and only stop light at 6:02, right on schedule, gathered my luggage, and set off. I walked along, pulling the big suitcase, and wondering just where the facility was. I knew the name of it, and the address, but not how far it was from the bus stop. I met some high school kids and asked if they knew where Edgewater Gardens was, and they directed me on. Murphy took a hand again, as I walked on for what seemed miles, until I finally saw some people sitting around tables under umbrellas in a small courtyard. I went in and asked them where Edgewater was, and was told that I had walked right past it. Following their directions, I went back a short distance and there it was.

I went across the parking lot to the front entrance, and there was Andrew, just inside, waiting for me. Just the way he had always done when he was little and living at Bloorview Children’s Hospital residence. He let me in, I hugged him and said “Andrew, I have a problem!” After all, if a like announcement worked for the Apollo 11 astronauts, it should work as well for me, right? He asked what it was, and I told him I couldn’t get home again – at least, I couldn’t get from Dunnville to Niagara Falls. “Don’t worry, grandma,” he said. “I’ll look after it. I’ll call John, he’ll help.” And that is how I met two of the nicest people in the world. They have been invaluable friends and helpers.

The visit was a success, we had a great time together, and I decided that next time, I would make the visit for the week, from Friday to Friday. That would save a lot of worry (I thought). I met several residents who had lived in or near Wainfleet, a small village where we had lived for several years. It was fun talking to them, remembering old friends and events from years back.

I got mostly packed Sunday night before bed, and finished in the morning. We had breakfast together, and John and Marilyn picked me up with time to spare to get me to the return bus. I knew that I would be making the trip again next year, making sure that I would leave Edgewater in time to catch the Dunnville bus. It seemed that if I could do that, there would be no more trouble, and Murphy would be foiled. But I did wish that when I bought the tickets, they would have told me about the ‘only on Friday’ schedule for the Dunnville buses. What a way to run a bus line!

Oh, well, I did try! Read on, and find out what happened for my 2008 visit.