Plans Shot All to Hell

Adventures are like chasing a moving toboggan when your friend yells, “Jump on!!”

Never sure you’ll hit the mark.  Laughing at the craziness.  Hoping the slippery, footing doesn’t end up in disaster as gravity pulls you toward the wooden sled, when you dive.  Hoping, once on, you can keep your feet up so they don’t drag and slow the ride.

My daughter, Elizabeth is biking this morning and I’m tracking her on wikiloc.  It looks very cold.  I can see the snow on the foothills, near where she started out south of Eskisehir.  Sabuncu, Kütahya Province (Turkey)  I picture her mind going to a nice warm place by a fire, sitting on some big pillows, petting Ellie, and drinking steaming tea. 

Elizabeth on Ancient Steps

Sabuncu, Kütahya Province (Turkey)

Ellie, Elizabeth's Companion

But, she’s out in the cold making her adventure possible.  Her five senses logging in every detail of her trip.  In a memory-place she’ll have to draw from, over and over. 

I’m writing from a warm, cozy spot in my apartment, hot tea sitting next to me on a yellow, rug-coaster.  I’m envying every mile of her bike travel.  Even knowing it’s a grueling workout, the moral boost would be worth every push of the pedal.  (If it didn’t kill me)  

It makes me all the more excited about my trip I’ll be taking in a few weeks.  

This quote describes some of why I love to travel.   

For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go.  I travel for travel’s sake.  The great affair is to move; to feel the needs and hitches of our life a little more nearly, to get down off this feather bed of civilization, and to find the globe granite underfoot and strewn with cutting flints.         Robert Lewis Stevenson

I’ve done enough traveling to know there are always pieces of sharp flint underfoot.  In spite of them or because of them, travel becomes unpredictable and more of an adventure than my mind could imagine, beforehand.  

I don’t fear getting lost.  I will get lost.  I don’t spend time worrying about crappy weather.  If I can swim in Lake Huron and come out with my feet numb, a few weather problems won’t shatter my resolve or my experiences. 

Snow on my Snorkeling Gear

I don’t want to have many expectations for my upcoming trip.  I’ll fly to Berlin to visit with my son, Holden and his girlfriend, Emma.  

Emma and Holden in Berlin

I’ll visit Elizabeth in Turkey for a few days.  Then I’ll have a few weeks of travel in Germany, practicing my preschool German and navigation skills.  I’ll be on my own, much of the time until I return to Berlin, to have some more time with Holden.  

My son, Holden

I like to travel alone.  I know both my kids will be working and managing their lives.  I have no fantasies about being entertained while I’m visiting, or any desire to be, most definitely! 

Queen Maggie

I admit, I absolutely love Holden’s coffee.  He’s so sweet when he gently hands me a cup of hot brew and sits with me so we can savor our coffee together….ahhh.

When Elizabeth sits on the couch with me and puts her feet on my lap, like a hug.  We relish a strong cup of tea together….

These are strong,  memories of contentment with my adult children.   

Will I be wanting them repeated?  Nah, I want new memories.  Maybe me gently handing Holden a hot cup of Koffee, as he lays on his belly on the couch.  Maybe me putting my feet on Elizabeth’s lap, like a hug, while we sip our tea and sit in silence.

I don’t want to form expectations kindled from past memories.  I want to leave plenty of room to form new ones.   I don’t want past memories to stifle or keep the door shut to a room meant for new ones.  

My stain-glass eyes are experts at tampering with reality.  If I don’t acknowledge them they could start filtering, influencing and altering how I retain new memories.  So, I'm putting them on probation this minute.

I want to be ready when, as R.L. Stevenson says, the “Cutting flints” tear open my skin and undermine my travel plans.  I want to keep my mind open to take what life passes to me as I travel.  I’m determined not to let those sharp, shards bleed me out.  I’m determined not to disregard them, either.  They will define my travels, too.

Negative experiences can be pivotal moments.  Moments to learn from, to register and move past.  I can see them as springboards to bounce off of, landing further on the another side, another adventure, another unexpected memory.

“Security is a false God. Begin to make sacrifices to it and you are lost.”   

                                                                                                    Paul Bowles

I made a new list.  A packing list of sorts:

l.  Sense of humor

2. Writing and reflection

3. Patience (in body and in mind)

4. Question myself, “What do you want to do now that plan of yours is shot all to hell?”

5. Flexibility (in body and in mind)

6. Unhurried, playful, traveling 

7. Prepare versus expect 

http://www.wikiloc.com  (app Elizabeth shared with me to follow her bike travels)