I made it to England safely and it felt like I had never left.
First things first. Sunday roast.
Clara, her boyfriend Tom, and flatmate Adam were happy to oblige and so we went for a meal shortly after my arrival.
I fell asleep early that night with a full tummy and plans to meet Sofia the next day. I woke up and have realized how awful and discomforting it is to wake up and no concept of the time. I got up, got ready and turned on the news and saw it was 6:45 a.m.
Four hours later I met Sofia and we visited a Movieum (movie + museum) walked along the south bank of the Thames and ate delicious crepes.
Returning to Clara's I got a little lost but eventually found my way back.
We left that night for Pisa and arrived early the next day. The tower was amazing and I, of course, took the obligatory pushing-the-tower photo. We then hit the beach, splashed in the warm ocean, worked on our tan then came back and joined others at the hostel for a meter and a half of pizza.
Today we headed to Florence and there are so many details I'd like to share, but they will have to wait for my return, when I have more time and a few less glasses of wine.
Ciao!
Showing posts with label time travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label time travel. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Travel buddies
In just a few short days I'll be boarding a plane off to see an old friend and make a new one.
By friend, I mean England (old friend) and Italy (new friend).
Two years ago when I came home from a year spent living in the U.K., I told myself I'd return in 2009, but I wasn't sure how to make that happen. But as fate would have it, it's happened and the plane is booked and plans are made.
But then as the thoughts of England were twirling in my head, Italy whispered in my ear. It took no convincing to get my friend Clara to agree to holiday in the boot-shaped country.
So things came together better than I thought they would and I put it out of my mind so I wouldn't explode with excitement.
But then June came, then July and now it is only a few days away. I think about other things, but then it pops back into my head and I get as giddy as a school girl.
Yipeeee!!
I'm really going to make an effort to update my blog and post my pictures while traveling, but if not, I hope to have some great stories to share upon my return.
Ciao!
By friend, I mean England (old friend) and Italy (new friend).
Two years ago when I came home from a year spent living in the U.K., I told myself I'd return in 2009, but I wasn't sure how to make that happen. But as fate would have it, it's happened and the plane is booked and plans are made.
But then as the thoughts of England were twirling in my head, Italy whispered in my ear. It took no convincing to get my friend Clara to agree to holiday in the boot-shaped country.
So things came together better than I thought they would and I put it out of my mind so I wouldn't explode with excitement.
But then June came, then July and now it is only a few days away. I think about other things, but then it pops back into my head and I get as giddy as a school girl.
Yipeeee!!
I'm really going to make an effort to update my blog and post my pictures while traveling, but if not, I hope to have some great stories to share upon my return.
Ciao!
Whooosh! There goes July!
I haven't written in ages, but honestly it hasn't felt like that because July has been a blur.
Never has such a period of time flown by so fast and filled with so many ups and downs, but thankfully, will be ending a heck of a lot better than it began!
July began in with my dad in the hospital. The events leading up to his quadruple bypass were a miracle in that they discovered he needed it before anything serious happened, i.e. heart attack or death. While it was emotional, exhausting and terrifying, I can joyously say it was a success and he's home, getting healthy.
I went from being off of work (while Dad was in the hospital) to being at work all the time. This is much of the reason that the month disappeared before I could grasp it. Thanks to a myriad of reasons, I ended up being the only one of several that do the same job at work. So that meant I was clocking in at 4:30 a.m. and clocking out at 6 p.m. Now I know what my editor does every day and am I so glad it was only a short period of time that had an end on the horizon. Also on the horizon is a fat paycheck with loads of over time pay that will arrive in just a few days!
I also helped a friend and co-worker pack-up for a move, got to spend the week with my sister and nieces and nephew, had dinner with my Bible study, and went to friend's going away party at a llama farm, where we stood in a pasture of llamas and I even petted one.
And now it's only a few days until what I've been looking forward to all July - the end! (Because I'm going to Europe, but I'm saving that for another blog.)
Good-bye July and hello August!
Never has such a period of time flown by so fast and filled with so many ups and downs, but thankfully, will be ending a heck of a lot better than it began!
July began in with my dad in the hospital. The events leading up to his quadruple bypass were a miracle in that they discovered he needed it before anything serious happened, i.e. heart attack or death. While it was emotional, exhausting and terrifying, I can joyously say it was a success and he's home, getting healthy.
I went from being off of work (while Dad was in the hospital) to being at work all the time. This is much of the reason that the month disappeared before I could grasp it. Thanks to a myriad of reasons, I ended up being the only one of several that do the same job at work. So that meant I was clocking in at 4:30 a.m. and clocking out at 6 p.m. Now I know what my editor does every day and am I so glad it was only a short period of time that had an end on the horizon. Also on the horizon is a fat paycheck with loads of over time pay that will arrive in just a few days!
I also helped a friend and co-worker pack-up for a move, got to spend the week with my sister and nieces and nephew, had dinner with my Bible study, and went to friend's going away party at a llama farm, where we stood in a pasture of llamas and I even petted one.
And now it's only a few days until what I've been looking forward to all July - the end! (Because I'm going to Europe, but I'm saving that for another blog.)
Good-bye July and hello August!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Spider-man
Have you ever taken the time to think of all the people you've ever known in the course of your life?
(If you haven't I encourage you to do so.)
It's incredible how many people come into our lives. Some you may forget, even though you promised to be friends forever. And with others, forever may have ended, but you'll always wonder about them.
One such person who was in my young life is a man I only know as "Spider."
Spider became a friend of our family after meeting my mom at the restaurant where she worked. He was a regular and soon he was a regular in our lives.
When asked, he told my sister and I he was called Spider because he wasn't afraid of anything. And after the time he put our goldfish on his tongue, we believed him.
I remember he liked to eat the french toast sticks from Carl's Jr. And I remember one visit he brought me a watermelon pencil case. We have an old picture of him on a boat, so I guess he liked sailing too.
I'm not sure when we lost touch with Spider. Maybe when we moved.
But years and years later, I saw him again.
It was Christmas Eve and I was going to college in Los Angeles. My roommates had chipped in and bought me a plane ticket so I could fly home for the holiday.
On the way home from the airport with my dad and grandpa, we decided to stop for some fast food.
I recognized him right away. He was sitting at a table. He was dirty and didn't look very healthy. But I knew it was Spider.
It was confirmed when my dad said, "Hello, Don."
He hugged us and we began to catch up on all the missing years. I could tell he was happy to see us.
Then he showed us how he had made the camper on the back of his truck into a nice home. He was very proud of his work.
Soon it was time to go and so we hugged him again and my dad gave him some money. Spider wanted to give us something too and so he gave us a big bag of shredded cheese. He also gave us his mailing address.
I wish I hadn't lost it, or at least used it before it disappeared.
Once we got into the car, I called my mom and the tears started flowing.
She tried to console me, explaining that that was the life he wanted to lead.
And maybe he always had and I was just to young to comprehend it.
I still think about him often and that fateful Christmas Eve. I wonder how he's doing, if he's healthy, or even still alive.
I wonder if I ever went back to that fast food restaurant just off the highway, if he'd be there.
Eating french toast sticks.
(If you haven't I encourage you to do so.)
It's incredible how many people come into our lives. Some you may forget, even though you promised to be friends forever. And with others, forever may have ended, but you'll always wonder about them.
One such person who was in my young life is a man I only know as "Spider."
Spider became a friend of our family after meeting my mom at the restaurant where she worked. He was a regular and soon he was a regular in our lives.
When asked, he told my sister and I he was called Spider because he wasn't afraid of anything. And after the time he put our goldfish on his tongue, we believed him.
I remember he liked to eat the french toast sticks from Carl's Jr. And I remember one visit he brought me a watermelon pencil case. We have an old picture of him on a boat, so I guess he liked sailing too.
I'm not sure when we lost touch with Spider. Maybe when we moved.
But years and years later, I saw him again.
It was Christmas Eve and I was going to college in Los Angeles. My roommates had chipped in and bought me a plane ticket so I could fly home for the holiday.
On the way home from the airport with my dad and grandpa, we decided to stop for some fast food.
I recognized him right away. He was sitting at a table. He was dirty and didn't look very healthy. But I knew it was Spider.
It was confirmed when my dad said, "Hello, Don."
He hugged us and we began to catch up on all the missing years. I could tell he was happy to see us.
Then he showed us how he had made the camper on the back of his truck into a nice home. He was very proud of his work.
Soon it was time to go and so we hugged him again and my dad gave him some money. Spider wanted to give us something too and so he gave us a big bag of shredded cheese. He also gave us his mailing address.
I wish I hadn't lost it, or at least used it before it disappeared.
Once we got into the car, I called my mom and the tears started flowing.
She tried to console me, explaining that that was the life he wanted to lead.
And maybe he always had and I was just to young to comprehend it.
I still think about him often and that fateful Christmas Eve. I wonder how he's doing, if he's healthy, or even still alive.
I wonder if I ever went back to that fast food restaurant just off the highway, if he'd be there.
Eating french toast sticks.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Time travel of the mind
At this time last year, I was (fill in the blank). 
Am I the only person who thinks like this? I seem to have this recurring string of thoughts at least once a day. At this time last year, I was climbing a mountain in Austria. At this time last year, I was running around a castle in Wales. At this time last year, I was lying on a beach in Greece, eating gyros.
My mind is a time machine, transporting me back to good memories, good friends and adventures not too long gone.
I take comfort that while I can't physically be everywhere at once, in my mind, I am. I'm back in the Austrians' flat, laughing over the way they say "make a picture" instead of "take a picture." I'm in Holland, trudging through the mud as if my life depended on it, because in fact, it does. I'm sitting around with Sofia (English) and Sarah (Welsh) as we say words like "tomato" and "stupid" to hear them in our respective accents. I'm having hair wars with Clara as we're on the train to Tenby.
As time passes, I'm sad that these thoughts now begin with "Two years ago, I was..." And soon it will be three and four years. The flux capicitor of my mind is getting weaker and the delorean needs more plutonium.
And then it hit me...
The great thing about time travel of the mind is, that while I'm back in the past, I'm still making memories in the present. Like meeting my nephew for the first time after being away from home for a year. Floating down the river with friends, and after five hours, learning we're only halfway done. Making a trip to the airport to pick up one person an adventure requiring a car full of people. Seeing friends get married. Strangers too, now that I think of it.
What I guess I'm really trying to say is, as great as the past was, the present is pretty terrific and the future doesn't look too bad either.
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