Rise up

I took this photo on Good Friday, 2019. It was early morning, a short time after I had landed in Dublin, and I recall feeling so fortunate to be exactly where I was at that very moment. It had been quite a few years since I been to Ireland and this long awaited trip nearly got waylaid by the whole Boeing Jet thing when my original flight was cancelled. A few more $$, and a drive to Hartford rather than Newburgh, got me out of the country and precisely where I wanted to be. It was a really special trip.

Heading into this fifth week of social distancing has got me feeling more than a little lost. My motivation to take on household projects is waning and I’m hungry for the buzz I get from traveling. I love my home and I enjoy being in it, but being in a city or taking in a new view feeds my soul.  I miss it.

The plan for Summer 2020 was is for a four week trip, 2 weeks with my youngest son in Spain followed by 2 weeks in Greece with friends. Our flights and accommodations are booked, with a significant amount of money invested in this greatly anticipated adventure. We’re scheduled to visit Seville, Madrid and Valencia, all new places for both of us. I had hoped to meet up with a childhood friend who had also planned to be with his family in Madrid, as well as an online friend who resides in Seville with his significant other. We have reservations to take a kayaking tour and were imagining early morning walks and late night tapas. I so want to go.

After our two weeks in Spain, Q will fly home and I’m to continue to Athens. I found the cutest Airbandb and managed to book it for three non consecutive nights as I come and go between the city, Paros Island and Nafplio, an ancient coastal city on the mainland. My accommodations in Parikia on Paros are rented from the same woman I rented from last year, giving me a sense of familiar despite the tremendous distance between Greece and New York. I’m excited to complete the entire Byzantine Road walk and explore AntiParos and even more beaches than we enjoyed in July 2019. I can almost taste the crisp white wine, delicate pastry and feta that combined to be my Greek diet just last summer. 

I haven’t yet given up on this trip happening. I understand that travel may not be an option, even a few months from now, but I’m not cancelling this vacation until I’m absolutely convinced that it won’t be possible. My wish to travel is a luxurious dream and I get that. I know there are far too many people who currently have much more basic needs which they hope to meet during these challenging months and I feel incredibly fortunate to be healthy and continuing to work and earn my salary. I am very, very lucky.

On this day which celebrates resurrection and miracles, I’m just going to believe that anything is possible. I hope you do too.