I recently returned from a whirlwind 6 week adventure to the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Europe. While abroad I saw so many amazing places, things, people, ate delicious food, and found a million and one things that I wanted to buy. It truly was the best thing I've ever done. So many people told me I was crazy for going by myself which kind of pissed me off, honestly.
At 31 years of age, I manage to get myself out of the house and around town without guidance or supervision of any kind. I'm hardly helpless. Yes, there is an added danger factor as a woman traveling alone but I credit myself with enough common sense to be able to avoid most of the obvious pitfalls. Besides, people get shot at the Walmart 2 miles from my house (which I do not set a toe inside.) Bad shit can happen anywhere. I do not regret a single day of my travels, even the REALLY shitty ones (and there were a few.)
Since my arrival back in the States, post vacation letdown has hit me pretty hard. As soon as I turned on my cell phone, I was flooded with various bullshit school/work voicemails and texts stressing me out with stupid stuff. As I continue to be stressed out with school/work study/home crap, I long to be back across the Atlantic. Or back home in Pennsylvania.
I have always had an itchy wandering foot. I like to travel, to visit new places I've never been, to see things I've never seen before. I live in Florida but PA will always be home for me. Maryland runs a very close second. When I am home, I get a feeling that I can't really describe. Everything inside me gets quiet. All the doubts and worries and fears and annoyances just cease to exist. My head gets clear. I have an overwhelming feeling of peace. A feeling of belonging. Like I've been constantly wearing a corset and can now take a really deep breath again, all the way down to my toes.
In Miranda Lambert's song 'The House That Built Me'
the lyrics say "I thought if I could touch this place or feel it / This brokenness inside me might start healing / Out here it's like I'm someone else / I thought that maybe I could find myself." That, for me, it the perfect description of what I feel when I go back home.
This may be something most people can't relate to, I don't know. I see it with my mom, when we go back to PA, but also when we go to the beach. It recharges her somehow. I see her close her eyes, take a deep breath of the saltwater scented breeze, and when she opens them again it's like a weight has been lifted.
While I was traveling, I fell in love. Sadly, it was not with Tom Hiddleston (who was tragically unavailable when I was in London, dammit!) as I had hoped it would be. Instead, I fell in love with Scotland.
Head over heels in love. It was immediate. I felt a recognition. A connection. Like I had been there before. Add in all the gorgeous accents and rugged, brawny men, and I was in heaven =)
I know it will be a place I return to again and again. I can't wait to be back there.
So this has me wondering, what are your feelings on this subject? Is there a special place you go that rejuvenates you? Or is it a book you read? Song you listen to? Movie or TV show you watch? Person you talk to? Something you do?
Random Paris cafe food porn pic. Because YUM!
