Those Far Away Places

     The first heading I decided on for this blog was:  'Travel'.  I expected that travel posts would be a frequent feature.

      Why wouldn't it be?  I love to travel.  The main thing I do in life is travel!  Experts tell writers to 'write what they know'...and this is something I know.  Obviously, I would write posts about travel all the time.

     But, I haven't.  


     After nearly a year, I have exactly three posts under 'Travel':  two about San Miguel, and one about Fort Worth.  Since we call both of these places home, it's less 'Travel', and more 'Local Events'.

     I decided to remedy the situation.  I went right to my computer and looked under:  Documents - Writing - Random Deep Thoughts.  These folders are filled with ideas and notes on all sorts of subjects.  I have hundreds and hundreds of them.  (If you read the post about my millions of lists, or pretty much any of my posts, this will come as no surprise.)  I searched for 'travel'.

     Guess what?  

     I have no notes on travel at all.  None.  Nada.  Zip. 

     How weird is that?  I mean, I have fourteen files on who I'll hire for my entourage should I become rich and famous.  I have notes on what to dress Ella up as next.  These files contain the location of Loud, Ugly, Carpets in 25 to 30 states, and I'm sure you can imagine how many carefully recorded thoughts I have relating to pie.

     But travel?  

     Nope.

     Okay, that's not 100% accurate.  I did find one gripey little tirade about packing.  In it I talked about the hassles of hauling crap around the world.  I droned on and on about the probability that you either won't pack exactly the right stuff...or you won't have the right stuff with you when you need it.

      I wouldn't exactly call this exhaustive research on the subject of travel.

     Where are all of the rhapsodic accounts of beautiful scenery, fascinating locals, and international friendships being formed?  Where are the exciting stories of exotic lands?  Where are all the details about local history, flora, fauna, food...?

     I live for that stuff.

---

     The first time I crossed the state line I was ten years old.  My aunt, uncle, two cousins, and I were headed to their home in Sacramento.

     I was beside myself with excitement.  I remember saying:  "Look at the mountains!" when we were barely past Amarillo.  My cousin laughed:  "Those aren't even foothills."  But, I'd never seen anything so amazing.

     When we got to the Rockies, my mind was officially blown.  (Snow on the mountaintops in July!  How could that even be possible?)  Utah, Nevada, then California...each part of the trip was a thrill.  I soaked in every detail.  The evenings were cool.  The air smelled of spicy cedar, eucalyptus and pine.   Accents changed, foods changed, and it was all so new and incredible.  I scribbled in my notebooks, and collected pamphlets and paraphernalia everywhere we went.  I didn't want to forget a single thing.

     I loved seeing where people lived.  (They hardly used brick for houses at all!)  I liked trying new foods.  We went to San Francisco and ate dinner in China Town.  We cooked our own dinner on an hibachi built right into the table.  There was See's candy, Ghirardelli chocolate, clam chowder in a sour dough bread bowl, beautiful and exotic produce in the grocery store...

     That summer I was bitten by the travel bug and have never recovered.

     Every trip since has just been an extension of that exploration.  Whether it be Agra, to visit the Taj Mahal, or a river boat ride in Germany past fairytale castles... I still love hearing other languages, seeing what people wear, how they move and interact, finding out what they like to eat, and drink, and do on the weekends...

     I love to see what's around the next bend.  I'm just about as engaged driving out to Weatherford, as I am driving the back roads in Poland.  I just love to be 'on my way'.

     In thinking about travel, I noticed all the trips that came to mind were ones I've taken on my own.  Work trips hardly registered.  I've been all over the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, Europe, the Caribbean, South and Central America with work...and had some wonderful experiences.  But, at the same time:  it's work.

     That's the only thing I can think accounts for the lack of posts.  Michael doesn't really want to talk about work when he gets home...and, apparently, neither do I.

     It's my time at home that seems fascinating to me lately.  Hanging out with Ella, sitting in the hot tub, watching "House of Cards' with Michael, meeting friends downtown, working on some house projects.  Now that's interesting!

      In a way, I think staying in one place has become 'exotic' to me.

      Or maybe traveling is such a constant in my life that I forget to notice.  I only notice something particularly odd.  I don't report on the impressive and ever-changing casinos in Vegas...I mention when there's a crane convention in town.  That's what gets my attention.
      I'd like to remember to notice, appreciate, and share, all of the journey.  I want to get back to the enthusiasm my ten year old self had about travel.  

     Making mountains out of foothills makes for a pretty fun ride.  



What's your favorite thing about travel?
Where would you most like to visit?