A New Place, A New Day

As feet hit the ground awareness starts to filter in. A sip of water, teeth brush and splash of water on your face. Birds are calling to one another. Light is gaining strength illuminating what’s in the room and,more importantly, the hope of a new day. The smell of coffee wafts from the machine activating … Read more

The Debrief Lone and All

All that remained was a packaged hazelnut cookie. From another trip it was five cans of sardines, smelly and tasty. There was a small hand-painted bowl from the Chateau region of France and a ceramic mini-platter from Tuscany. A bottle of Spanish olive oil safely packed in our luggage and savored for months once home. … Read more

When Travel Disrupts…

Travel is disruptive.  When we travel we intentionally disrupt our lives! In a foreign land we’re unaccustomed to cultural norm.  Not in our own bed, sleep isn’t fit. Food is foreign to our bodies. In an unfamiliar place, we’re slightly on edge. Routines do not resemble daily lives.  Thus, whether for business or pleasure trips, … Read more

The Last Seat Dilemma: Finding Space

The last one on the plane, ugh, is an unenviable position. The only seat available is surprisingly in the front row, the Bulk Head middle seat. All the other passengers have walked by and as the very last passenger boarding the plane, the only choice was that smooshed seat. Arms stretched straight by my side. Other … Read more

Managing the Going and Coming

Leaving home feels so different than returning.  Both have challenges and rewards.  There’s nothing normal about the day right before leaving or conversely the last day of a trip. Our minds begin to anticipate the change. Sleep is restless. Emotions are mixed. Caught unawares, we’re readying ourselves for a transition. Life is about to be … Read more

Little Inconveniences or Slowing Way Down

Yes, traveling can be exhausting.  We want to figure out where to eat breakfast, how to get from the airport to the hotel and around the town, purchase tickets to the top sights, procure dinner reservations etc…lots of logistics.Then, it’s the little things, the small inconveniences that remind us we’re in a different country and … Read more

The Right Thing For The Right Thing

Much had changed.  Packing for a recent trip felt different. Instead of three bags, there was one, a “Roll-Away” that fit in the overhead bin. No baggage fees! Check! Clothes worked for both daytime and evening activities. Check!  The coat was helpful in light rain and windy conditions without being cumbersome or difficult to pack. … Read more

Little Black Dress…Little Black Backpack

Fashion experts often extol the virtues of the “Little Black Dress”, a “must have” staple for any woman’s wardrobe.  This “classic” dress is perfect for almost any occasion and pays dividends quickly. Its worn all the time, becoming a  favorite “Go To”. Life and getting dressed for an evening becomes simpler. Wear and Go! The … Read more

Looking for Pool Debris and Food in our Teeth

Not too long ago while in the pool there was another “swimmer” walking down the lane and wearing a face mask and snorkel, examining the water and pool bottom with every step.  To the chagrin of the other swimmers, he was looking for debris.  His mature age played a factor as walking was less strenuous … Read more

“Stoked-ness”: Tuning-In to the Vernacular

Heading on a bus to ski some Spring “powder” a fellow passenger asked, “Are you stoked (about the new snow)?”.  With the constant deluge of precipitation falling outside, we indeed felt full of “Stoked-ness”, hoping to experience fresh white stuff on the mountain trails.  Although being “stoked” was not necessarily an adjective in our vocabulary, … Read more