A funny thought struck me recently.
I was sitting on my couch watching TV and I realized that I missed Tennessee. Yes, I was only there a week ago but I was missing it. Which got me thinking - why? How do I miss a place I haven't spent much time in?
I also miss New Orleans. And Florida. And Memphis. I can close my eyes and am instantly transported to these places. What is it that happens that makes it feel as though I am right there?
I think it starts when I get to go out and see the area around where I'm staying. When I get to know the state and it's geography. Sitting at an intersection and looking around. Seeing it's lumps, bruises, bulges and valleys. Watching the way the sun reflects off the stream or hides behind it's hills. How the wind whistles through the trees or glides around the buildings. Listening to the birds sing and the cars rumble by. Feel the way the heat bounces of my skin and the humidity makes my hair stick to my neck.
It's having my best friend next to me and laughing. Making our own inside jokes and surviving heat and terrible storms. Eating fabulous food. Seeing and hearing things that I can't experience at home. Learning how people drive in cities other than your own. Smiling at people you don't know. Being a little loud. Trying a new cocktail.
And then I realized: it's all these things that make me leave part of my heart behind and have a fragment of my soul stay without me.
People talk about travel making you feel more whole. I disagree. If you're traveling correctly, you should leave parts of you behind (no, not your toothbrush). The more you travel the more you should have pieces of yourself scattered about. To me, that's what travel is about.
Showing posts with label places I love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label places I love. Show all posts
Monday, June 20, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
25 Things I Learned In 25 Years
So, I had my birthday on Saturday. It was my 25th birthday, as a matter of fact. In honor of that, I've compiled a list of things I've learned in these 25 years I've spent on the planet.
Without further ado:
1.) That pan that you have in the 500 degree oven really is as hot as you think it is.
2.) If all else fails, turn on Eric Clapton.
3.) Sometimes, clutching your favorite stuffed animal and having a good cry is the only solution.
4.) In the immortal words of my best friend Amy, "We may not be able to drink the pain away, but we can sure as hell numb it." Especially true when accompanied by a bottle of wine.
5.) People who consider themselves cultural elitists (aka those whose opinion on music/movies/TV is far superior to yours) are closed minded jerks who are missing the true point. As long as it makes you feel something and brings you joy how can that be bad?
6.) Chocolate can solve all the world's problems.
7.) No matter how big a deal you make out of the major moments in life, the things you'll remember most are the little things.
8.) Nothing beats a midnight run to McDonald's for sweet tea and fries.
9.) Having your heart shattered to bits sucks.
10.) Always make time for shoe shopping.
11.) Bullies are a way of helping you realize your inner strength.
12.) Never try to explain migraines to someone who has never had one. They think they're just really bad headaches. They're not.
13.) Find a place (or places) on the planet that you love. They make bad days/moments/weeks/months/years better knowing that they exist.
14.) Laugh, for chrissakes.
15.) Have a favorite movie.
16.) Listen.
17.) When the world is closing in and you feel like it can't get better: go for a drive. Turn the radio up as loud as it can go and roll the windows down. And drive. Fast.
18.) Always have a favorite baseball team (go Cubs!).
19.) Be able to talk about sports. Intelligently. Same goes for politics and current events.
20.) Have fun, dammit.
21.) Donate as much as you can to causes you believe in.
22.) Having a pet makes a new place finally feel like home.
23.) Never underestimate a good creme brulee.
24.) Working with people you get along with is more important than people give it credit for.
25.) Keep discovering who you are.
Without further ado:
1.) That pan that you have in the 500 degree oven really is as hot as you think it is.
2.) If all else fails, turn on Eric Clapton.
3.) Sometimes, clutching your favorite stuffed animal and having a good cry is the only solution.
4.) In the immortal words of my best friend Amy, "We may not be able to drink the pain away, but we can sure as hell numb it." Especially true when accompanied by a bottle of wine.
5.) People who consider themselves cultural elitists (aka those whose opinion on music/movies/TV is far superior to yours) are closed minded jerks who are missing the true point. As long as it makes you feel something and brings you joy how can that be bad?
6.) Chocolate can solve all the world's problems.
7.) No matter how big a deal you make out of the major moments in life, the things you'll remember most are the little things.
8.) Nothing beats a midnight run to McDonald's for sweet tea and fries.
9.) Having your heart shattered to bits sucks.
10.) Always make time for shoe shopping.
11.) Bullies are a way of helping you realize your inner strength.
12.) Never try to explain migraines to someone who has never had one. They think they're just really bad headaches. They're not.
13.) Find a place (or places) on the planet that you love. They make bad days/moments/weeks/months/years better knowing that they exist.
14.) Laugh, for chrissakes.
15.) Have a favorite movie.
16.) Listen.
17.) When the world is closing in and you feel like it can't get better: go for a drive. Turn the radio up as loud as it can go and roll the windows down. And drive. Fast.
18.) Always have a favorite baseball team (go Cubs!).
19.) Be able to talk about sports. Intelligently. Same goes for politics and current events.
20.) Have fun, dammit.
21.) Donate as much as you can to causes you believe in.
22.) Having a pet makes a new place finally feel like home.
23.) Never underestimate a good creme brulee.
24.) Working with people you get along with is more important than people give it credit for.
25.) Keep discovering who you are.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Memphis
I don't know how it happened.
I don't really even know what happened.
I just know I was driving along and suddenly was transported to Memphis.
I think it's because it was warm today. And because it was twilight. And I was listening to the blues.
Oh, hell. I don't know.
All I know is I was leaving work and had the windows down because it was nice out. And I was listening to the blues (which is only something I listen to in the summer). The breeze was blowing slightly through as I was singing along with one of my favorite songs: Riding With The King. As soon as that song ended, another one started. The beginning strains of the song started moaning across my radio. And before I knew it, I was seeing Beale Street in my mind's eye.
I couldn't shake it. It wasn't a bad thing, it was quite beautiful honestly. I love Memphis. I love the feeling when I'm there. How everything feels. The fact that the blues sounds like Memphis. I've never been anywhere else that feels like Memphis. I swear, due to all the history there you can almost feel a buzz in the air. And, I don't know how to explain it but the Mississippi looks different there. Oh, sure, it's still a large river here in Illinois but it somehow looks more majestic there.
I remember standing and looking at it during sunset while there in Memphis. The sun glittered on the river and it looked gold. It was the MISSISSIPPI. Mark Twain's river. The reason "Old Man River" was written and recorded.
And all of these thoughts were coming to mind and pestering me while this song played. It was nice because for five minutes, I was in one of my favorite places on the planet.
I don't really even know what happened.
I just know I was driving along and suddenly was transported to Memphis.
I think it's because it was warm today. And because it was twilight. And I was listening to the blues.
Oh, hell. I don't know.
All I know is I was leaving work and had the windows down because it was nice out. And I was listening to the blues (which is only something I listen to in the summer). The breeze was blowing slightly through as I was singing along with one of my favorite songs: Riding With The King. As soon as that song ended, another one started. The beginning strains of the song started moaning across my radio. And before I knew it, I was seeing Beale Street in my mind's eye.
I couldn't shake it. It wasn't a bad thing, it was quite beautiful honestly. I love Memphis. I love the feeling when I'm there. How everything feels. The fact that the blues sounds like Memphis. I've never been anywhere else that feels like Memphis. I swear, due to all the history there you can almost feel a buzz in the air. And, I don't know how to explain it but the Mississippi looks different there. Oh, sure, it's still a large river here in Illinois but it somehow looks more majestic there.
I remember standing and looking at it during sunset while there in Memphis. The sun glittered on the river and it looked gold. It was the MISSISSIPPI. Mark Twain's river. The reason "Old Man River" was written and recorded.
And all of these thoughts were coming to mind and pestering me while this song played. It was nice because for five minutes, I was in one of my favorite places on the planet.
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