https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/01/08/briefing/the-weekender.html Take the time to check these out -this NY Times article gave me such joy this morning -scrolling through all the places, seeing the pictures, reading the descriptions of how these places made people FEEL. I love that every place has a feeling; every place evokes reminders of what was happening in your life, who you were with, how you experienced it. The same place at different times can be two incredibly different experiences. I think of my Italy trip with my girlfriends for my 50th, and then a few months later with my son - both amazing, incredibly different experiences - even though I visited many of the same places. You get to see places through a different lens. Portugal with just my kids - SO many memories; I recall how nervous I was driving and being unable to read the signs - I was literally sweating. Then I think of the compassion I felt from my kids in these moments. I was testy with them, but they understood; they saw my raw fear and uncertainty and then got to watch me overcome it. I think of the wind nearly blowing us off the cliff in Sagres - the edge of the world. I think of Wilson’s steady diet of french fries on that trip as well as his obsession with Ronaldo soccer jerseys. I think about the many California trips I take - and I taste them again in the wine I’ve brought home. I think about listening to Norah Jones on repeat in a cute little cabin in Highlands, NC while reading books and writing. Traveling with people or traveling alone - so many wonderful memories and feelings arise when I think about these special places.
This article made me think about alllll these remote and wonderful places I want to go. It’s a big wide world out there, and as I near the age of 53, I realize there is only SO much time left to see the world. I had a big travel year planned for 2020 - then covid hit. One less year (or more) to see the world. I’ve been feeling particularly restless the last few days. I think we all managed 2020 in different ways; for me it was “just live in the now and get to the next thing”….the next work milestone, the next long weekend, the next day with fewer zooms, the next socially distanced get together with friends around the fire pit. I feel bad complaining about a lack of travel - speaks to my abundance of privilege - there are many people out of work, homeless, struggling, sick… I’m grateful for all that have, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t missing travel. I know it will be all the sweeter when we can travel freely again.
I miss that feeling you get when you land in a foreign country - that feeling of anonymity, that anticipation of surprise and wonder. I miss the smell of different air, a different climate, a different sensation for my tastebuds, different sounds and smells.
I keep trying to placate myself with small drivable safe weekend trips. Mountains, beach, something near enough yet far enough, a place where more time is spent outdoors than indoors - hiking, walking, exploring nature. I’m counting down the days until we are vaccinated, until cities and countries start to open back up to me. Our time is limited. Covid has made me realize this all the more. I think about people who work and work and work their whole lives and never take a vacation - squirreling away their money for retirement, for “someday when”… I understand it on one level (safety and security), but then I think about the people who do this and then get some horrible disease or cancer at the age of 60, just as they are about to “live” ….and their someday never comes to fruition. We aren’t guaranteed another day. We only have right here and right now….This doesn’t mean I don’t believe in saving money or planning for the future…but it does mean I think I need to strike a balance between living in the now and planning for the future. I have a “favorite word” board on Pinterest - this is one of them. Onism. It’s a sad word in many ways, but it’s also a motivating word. It makes me want to plan a trip. Life is short. Go see the world.
