Only robbers and gypsies say that one must never return where one has once been. -Kierkegaard
As I stood in the travel store watching Ruby thumb through a book on India, followed by one on Japan and yet another on Myanmar, it occurred to me as it often does before I travel, that there are so many places I want to see in the world before I die. And dammit if there isn’t enough time.
Given this realization, it seems thoughtless to revisit an old favorite (or two). But I couldn’t help myself this time around. Planets aligned and a certain corner of the world beckoned. Is it so wrong to spend our daughter’s college fund on a nine day vacation that doesn’t include her? If it means lots of Guiness and red wine and baguettes and uninhibited public tongue kissing, then the answer is NO! No it’s not wrong! Not only is it not wrong, it’s more right than Grover Norquist.
In just over 36 hours, these hands will be welcoming me to London.
See how they glow like that? That’s from the inside.
After a few days of laughing, talking, photographing, photographing, laughing and photographing, she’ll send me off to Paris. She’ll be a little sad to see me go.
Okay. She’ll be a lot sad. So she’ll give Sam and me some time together before hopping on a train with her family and arriving in time to celebrate my birthday in a manner that will surely ease the vertigo caused by standing at the precipice of forty.
10 responses so far ↓
1 starshine // Jul 21, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Here via Derfwad Manor…
Have an awesome time in London. There is something special about returning to a corner of the world that you have visited and loved before.
There are so many places that I’d love to see, but to find another corner of the world that you CONNECT with, and want to go back…that’s successful travel.
Have a blissful time turning 40!
2 Cheri @ Blog This Mom! // Jul 22, 2008 at 12:44 am
Bon voyage! And happy birthday!
3 robyn // Jul 22, 2008 at 4:46 am
Oh, I love London! Have a fantastic trip!
4 bonzize // Jul 22, 2008 at 6:37 am
I’ll be thinking of you and Sam and Stacy on your birthday - Happy 38th.
xoxo
5 Jenn @ Juggling Life // Jul 22, 2008 at 6:54 am
Have too much fun. And Happy Birthday!
6 Melanie @ Mel, A Dramatic Mommy // Jul 22, 2008 at 9:33 am
Happy Birthday! Enjoy the trip, I know the photos will be fabulous!
7 aaryn b. // Jul 22, 2008 at 1:45 pm
whoa, starshine! i’m at the precipice enjoying the vista. i not quite ready for the freefall.
thanks everyone.
pics coming soon.
8 katie // Jul 22, 2008 at 9:07 pm
I’m so sorry I didn’t get your message until too late!! Grrrrr . . . I have been away from my house and didn’t get the present you were supposed to take until 6 p.m. tonight (I’m sure right when your flight was taking off).
I’m so jealous. And happy for you. And a little bit more jealous. Have so so so much fun! As if I’d expect anything different from two sisters separated at birth.
9 Mrs. G. // Jul 23, 2008 at 5:01 pm
I would wish you a good trip but, knowing where you are headed, that is a given.
Happy Birthday!
10 Jenn, aka JeSais // Jul 31, 2008 at 7:51 am
I’ve been remiss in my blog reading.
RE: ” Is it so wrong to spend our daughter’s college fund on a nine day vacation that doesn’t include her?”
I agree with you. NO it is not wrong. IN fact it is RIGHT! You are showing your daughter how to LIVE and enjoy life and seize opportunities as they come along…. besides, I’m sure Ruby is brilliant, she’ll be getting lots of scholarships and won’t need not stinkin’ college fund :-0
Keep bringin’ the pictures… they are fabulous. I love seeing the world as you see it– finding beauty in elbows and reflections. amazing. thank you for sharing.
Leave a Comment