September 24, 2013
Fargo, ND
I sit here today in the Fargo, ND airport about to embark on a journey of a life time. A five week backpack trip through Europe. 12 countries, 35 days!! Yeeee!!! I'm excited, nervous, overjoyed, scared out of my mind giddy!! I'm going with an old friend (or should I say ex-boyfriend) doesn't matter. And no, there is absolutely no chance of rekindling an old flame. When I told people who I was going with, their eyes lit up like they had just won the lottery, quickly followed an obnoxious squeal, only to end with a confused look and awkward silence. Sadly, I am used to this chain of events as my life is quite random. To set the record straight, I am strictly tagging along because A) I've always wanted to go, B) Have never had anyone to go with, C) figured someone is better than no one, D) hoping time had allowed both of us to grow up, and E) valid proof that I don't believe in grudges.
This entire trip came up spontaneously one day while I was out on a run on a hot August day. Feeling down and bummed out on life as my Asics pounded the pavement and I attempted to sing out loud to Nickeback's song, "If Today Were Your Last Day..." I pondered and evaluated my life after being back in ND, "my home,"for over a year. The longer I thought about it, the more sad I became. My heart and mind have been longing for Hawaii and the life I had there since the day I left. Deep down, I've been hoping and praying these feelings would fade away or just blatantly disappear. However, my thoughts and memories are much like that of red wine spilled on white carpet. The harder you scrub to remove the stain, the more the wine bleeds, the bigger the stain, until eventually the entire area is a subtle hue of pink. Forever stained and changed..but in a good way. (Speaking from experience, as I am the proud owner of white carpet stained Pinot Noir.)
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars
REgardless of who you are
So do whatever it takes
'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothing stand in your way
Cause the hands of time are never on your side..."
Fast forward 1 month as I sit here at Gate 2. Fargo--> Minneapolis--> Boston---> Paris. EEEK!!I've always said, "Why does it take a death sentence for people to go out and LIVE their dreams?" So here's to living life to the fullest, taking risks, and checking things off my bucket list!!! I cannot even believe this is really happening. Do I have everything? Passport, Credit Card, Debit Card, Cash, Camera... take a deep breath Lisa. If you forgot anything else, you can buy it in Europe.
Funny tidbit about this morning. Mom and Dad picked me up at home, we were held up by Blinking Red Lights and firetrucks speeding down 45th St, missed our turn to the airport, and almost got pulled over for making a left turn on a red light. (In our defense, we sat there for 4 minutes and the light never did change.) Then, as I was checking in at the Delta counter, the ticket man could not have been more annoyed or impatient with my giddy nervousness. After being scolded once for not listening to his instructions, twice for asking a question, in the midst of my third question I suddenly felt a vibrating sensation. Where in the world was that coming from? I looked around with a blank look on my face. Was it my purse? Nope. My passport book? Nope. The ticket printer? Nope. I felt my pockets. Wasn't my phone. What the heck was going on?? I didn't dare ask the man for fear of being scolded a third time. I glanced at my Mom. Back at the ticket guy. Hmmmm.... I could not for the life of me figure out what was causing the ticket stand to vibrate. As I darted my eyes back and forth between my Mom and the ticket guy like a gecko on the run, I turned and stared at the conveyer belt, thinking there MUST be something wrong with it? Or maybe this was a new security thing? The stern faced guy gave me a glare, shook his head, as my Mom gave me a puzzled look and said, "Is that your toothbrush?" Laughing hysterically, I realized my Sonicare was vibrating my entire 30 lbs bag like a mini earthquake. I'm quite certain my Mom and I laughed uncontrollably for the next 5 minutes. The kind where you snort and drool and gasp for air. Airport: 1, Lisa: 0. Ticket man: Speechless.
As the same ticket guy is announcing last call for boarding, (Still straight faced and cranky) I am feeling alive for the first time since I quit travel nursing. Yeeee!!! I'm quite certain, I skipped onto the airplane. 2 more stops and I'm in Paris!!
Finally got to Boston, met up with my travel friend, grabbed our last American beer and appetizer. I called each and one of my family member one last time, left messages, and turned my phone off for the next 35 days. Here we go!!! Next stop: Paris!!!!
We are about 4 hours from Paris. I completely forgot on international flights, it's all the free wine and beer a giddy traveler can handle. I'm about 4 glasses of red wine in. I best cut myself off. I'd hate to end up spending my first day in Paris in bed! ETA: 0800.
Head phones on, wine buzz intact, and Nickelback words singing me to sleep... "Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind. And try to take the path less traveled by. That first step you take is the longest stride...." zzzzzzzzzzz..........
Here's being forever stained and changed, much like red wine on white carpet... only in a good way!
Tonight: Ponder if today were your last day. Would you be content or finally set out and make your dreams come true? Never let people, fear, or money prevent you living your dreams. I'm sure not, so why should you?
