Wonders of Travel

We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.  ~Hilaire Belloc

The holiday travel bug has hit. It is time to begin making plans to head to the far and not so far, as I think of friends and begin to make plans for the next 2 months. I enjoy travelling on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. For most travelers, they are somewhere already. My family all travel during those times, so our times together, to celebrate, occur at odd times across the holiday calendar.

This year, for Thanksgiving, my siblings, parent, and assorted nieces and nephews are gathering for the pies, turkey and various adult libations at my sister's horse ranch on the Olympic Peninsula, a few days before or after our holiday journeys (TBD). We will tell stories and make fun of one another, and since my niece's new boyfriend will be there, conduct the typical family inquisition, expected by any man, if he is wise, who dares to date any woman of the family.

My sister and I are both single, and I dread the day my love is forced to attend the first dinner party with my mother and sister. No, there is still no man in my life, as some of you should know, if you have read the blog, however, I am travelling again this holiday season, and you never know who will pop into your life while wandering around the earth.

I hope that Rachael's new beau understands the fact that she is going to Ireland to the National Stud School, for her master's in thoroughbred equine breeding. It is her plan and one that formulated a few years ago, when the family headed to Ireland to drink and visit horse breeding farms, across the verdant island.

Thanksgiving Day my siblings and mother will be scattered far and wide, across the continent, to ski resorts, Indian reservations and riding arenas. I head to San Francisco to spend a few needed days, of frivolity and flirtatious innuendo, at my dear friend, P's SF abode. We will eat, drink and be ravenous for the feast, of  each other's 2 years, of past experiences.

My suitcase will carry the requisite Alaska Smoked Salmon, who will enjoy the flight across the Pacific and over Mt. Rainier, and down through the wonders of Oregon and Northern California, discussing the amazement of Jerry Brown's election to re-govern that lovely state, once again. He was once my boss, when I worked for the California Public Broadcasting Commission, my last years at Berkeley.

Satellites where my thing then, and designing the new laws for satellite technology allowed me to meet new friends, and attend some wild Berkeley parties, attended by those promoting and designing the pathways and transponders for the new technologies, including meeting a sexy man named Carlos, who adored me for 2 nights, before he departed to the University of Seville. Ole!

Do you ever wonder what happened to those old lovers, of yours? Ever find out what happened to those who weren't but you wished they had been? I do. Lust, food, wine, dinner parties with strangers, coffee houses with friends,  and intriguing conversationalists,  crowd into my experiences, when I trip around the planet.

Travel is fulfilling and memorable,  if you stay in the present moment. I could have a great moment to remember, a new story to tell, or a new love who calls me, upon my return. I just never know, once the door is locked and I am sitting in the airport shuttle.

Since last trip to the City by the Bay was 2 years ago, to see you P, Ronnie, Trevor, Jodi, Tom, Dan, Ellen, Mark 1 and 2, Flip, Jimmy Eyes, John, Darryl, Crain, Margo, Dave, Ger and Pismo, Berkeley Savants 1-14, Dancing Harlots, Gamma Raze, and those who wish to remain anonymous, my hair has grown--a lot. So as not to shock you all, here I am, with long Titian locks. 

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.  Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.  ~Mark Twain