For those of you who've missed me (you seven or eight loyal readers know who you are), I feel I have to explain my absence. It's kind of hard to write a blog when you're too busy gallivanting all over Europe. Wait, that sounds bad. Let me try not to sound like one of the Kardashians. I haven't been able to write my blog because I was lucky enough to be able to take an amazing three week trip across the pond. Better?
I know, I know. A little thing like being four thousand miles away from my computer should not have stopped me. Not in 2011. And, honestly, I would have loved to file a daily commentary about my exploits stumbling through ancient cultures but I was under strict orders from my better half not to let anyone in on the fact that we were far from home. I'm not sure which of my dozen readers would jump at the chance to break into my vacant homestead but you never can tell.
Truth is, I probably couldn't have communicated very well even if my gag order had been lifted. Internet on a cruise ship is on par with the speed of AOL a decade ago with a cost of several Bahama Mamas per minute so it's all for the best that I remained silent until now. Anyway, our three week trip to Switzerland, Italy, Greece and Turkey went off without a hitch (if you overlook that nasty spill I took in Mykonos where my forehead became intimately acquainted with the cobblestone street. Luckily, it didn't put an end to our adventures, although all remaining pictures feature an improvised hairstyle designed to cover the lovely subsequent black eye.)
There's nothing like leaving the comfort of your surroundings and exploring other cultures to give one a lot to think about. From the start (in first class, mind you, for the first time thanks to hubby's frequent flier miles), I felt blessed beyond belief. I know how many people never get to live out their dreams. Just last weekend I heard about a friend of a friend who keeled over at the age of forty-five so I know how important it is to seize an opportunity when it presents itself. I realize we have to plan for our future but it's amazing to me how many people do it at the expense of their present. The memories we created over these past three weeks might have to sustain me someday when I'm living on food stamps, camped out in my kid's basement. But, so what? In my eyes, that would only be poetic justice.
So, now that I'm back doing laundry, dusting furniture and putting dinner (a little pasta, a little vino - hey, it's tough to let go) on the table, I want to encourage all of you to go for it. Even if it's a stretch financially, even if it's completely irrational, don't put off doing something you really want to do, don't put off going somewhere you're really dying to go. All life's problems will be there waiting for you when you get back. You'll just have a big smile on your face while you're dealing with them.
