And no, this isn't a flounce.
It's a trip. Lea Lane would be proud.
We're going to Thailand. Taking the kids.
And it's not really about Thailand. That's just the destination. We've been there before, many years back, before kids. We got some great tickets, and once you get there, it's cheap to travel. But it's not about Thailand, not really.
It's about the world. I want to see it, dammit. I want to go, before I'm any older. I want my kids to see life without Nintendo, a place where kids are lucky to have shoes and school. I want them to understand what I can only do from having seen it, that We Are Rich. We Have Everything. All they can see is what they don't have--the latest Nintendo game, an X-box, a Rock Band set. But they have a house, free school, their own bedrooms, more toys than they can count, all the trappings of suburban American life. We have two cars! Two cars! Riches beyond riches, and they can't see it.
No, the credit cards aren't paid off yet. My only goal was to not put anything new on a card. The ducks are decidedly NOT in a row. My life isn't perfectly organized. The taxes aren't done yet. The floors need refinishing. The paint is chipped. The water spot from the leaky window in the living room still isn't fixed. (OK the window is fixed. But not the water spot). The couch is 20 years old. The furniture is a collection of mismatched, dog-haired castoffs from various relatives when they got new furniture. The back yard is a mess of mud and a cracked cement patio. That deck we were going to build fifteen years ago? We took the money and went to Egypt. The deck still isn't built. We could have bought a couch this fall. We bought skis instead.
I can't ski on a couch. I can't show my kids how much we both love the snow if we're sitting inside playing Rock Band.
A new couch is not going to make me happy.
A new deck will not show me the world.
Couch and plaster and deck be damned.
We're going.
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Comments
So, I say - HURRAH!!! Nothing can replace travel in terms of enlightenment, relaxation, elation and widening the mind. Excited to read your posts about your travel experiences!
Safe travels,
A.
;)
Enjoy the trip. Take LOTS of pictures and uh, TAKE ME WITH YOU!! ;)
the semi-nomadic within applauds you.
Have a Blast
Tar-Paper Shacks
aliquot--I hope to post from the road if I can find connections. And yes, there is no replacement for seeing the world. We've put it off too long.
Torman--thanks! I'll think of my broken down old couch while I'm sitting on an elephant.
Bonnie--I'll definitely take lots of pictures and try to blog from the road. Diamonds and opals? How 'bout from a gumball machine?
Dr. Spudman 44--some luck... some planning... some saying "What the hell" and doing it anyway.
Tinkertink--you want toys? We got them. A lot of them. Headless Barbies, hot wheels cars with lost wheels, mounds and stacks and boxes of LEGOs. And I don't think you'll fit in my suitcase.
walkawayhappy--thanks! I think so too.
Renatta--I think we all have a nomad within. We just have to let her/him out and off the leash.
Tar-paper shacks--thanks!
Lunchlady--Yup, lots of pictures. And lots of attitude. The good kind.
ocularnervosa--thanks!
bellwether vance--Yes, I plan to write a lot. And take a ton of photos.
Lea--Coming from you, you have no idea how much I appreciate that. Thanks!
Juli--I will!
Don't forget to blog about it!
Our next trip is a drive from MI to WY and back with the kids in April but our dream is to take them to Australia to meet all of my husbands family and find out about the other half of their heritage. We always make excuses about why this isn't the year (always money related)...but now you have helped me to realize that we can make it happen.
Safe travels.
Oscar the Grouch, Bert, Miss Piggy,
Gonzo, Fozey, Bangkok, Thailand,
etc.,
Christmas Eve, and Rosh Hosanna.
Yom Kippur, Easter, All Saints Day,
good raw vegetables, rice soup, chai,
a child pinata stuffs with carrot/beet,
and no totally deranged DC politicos.
Thanksgiving.
Make sure you visit the Red Light St..
You will love the dancers forever.
I recall one night. That's enough!
One night in Bangkok. No touch.
Just watch. I see a young woman.
She danced with two lit-candle.
I rarely witness such Beauty.
The dancer was glorious.
She was one peasant.
She's with a hoe now.
She probably sows.
She plants the rice.
She carry sheathes.
She is rejoicing, ay!
Bringing in harvest.
Rejoicing. Beauty.
Do Come back?
If not?
We go?
Visit Bangkok too?
Put flowers in hair?
A Frog no got hairs.
Wear a lei and smile.
Dance a hop cha cha!
lateagain--yes, experiences trump things. I have to repeat that to myself again and again, when I get the urge for furniture and electronics.
big fat trauma queen--I will try to blog. And have fun!
Gail Walter--Thanks. It's so easy to get stuck in the suburbs and tell myself no, that we can't go, it's too expensive, yadda yadda. (fingers in ears "la la la la") we're going anyway.
Sparking--Yes, we hope to have a great time. Or at least a memorable one.
aim--thanks. It's hard sometimes when we're saying "no" (you can't have Rock Band, but what about a camera?) to remember that we're doing the right thing.
mamoore--I'm slowly realizing that travel is like deciding to have a baby. It's never the right time. There's always a reason to say "not now, but sometime." Eventually you just do it anyway. I hope you go to Australia soon!
blue eyes--thanks. I appreciate it. I don't think one of my posts has been "monkey fingered" before. I'm honored.
tomreedtoon--I'm a firm believer in the individual over the state. Rick Steves, the well-known travel writer, talks about this attitude all the time. Americans are afraid to travel because of the enemies our government has made around the world, and then they don't travel except to sanitized destination resorts in the Carribbean. So they miss out on the opportunity to meet people, to see things, to learn, and to understand. I wouldn't go to Afghanistan, but there are plenty of places without wars going on. And... I've been to Thailand before. No one died. I was far more afraid of the crazy traffic than of the polite and delightful Thai people.
geezerchick--thanks!
Joan H.--I will post pictures! And stories.
bobbot--oh yeah. And Pad Thai. And Tom Kha Gai. Mmmm.
ClarkK--thanks! and yes I'll try to post some updates.
Art James--I love it! I will definitely take pictures. And yes, I've been to Patpong Road, but remember we have the Tadpoles this time. No latenight clubs, but probably and elephant ride or two.
Good Daughter--Yes, it is the biggest rush in the world. I get all excited over airports and suitcases. I can't wait.
rita shibr--thanks, and I think so too.
Enjoy the rest.
Find some peace.
Have fun! So happy for you that you are doing what you want. Much love to you.
ronnieray--thanks! I hope to.
mission--yes on the posts and travelogue!
politics--Yes, I should be. I am. Just not all of it.
Jill Mc--thanks!