E is for Europe

In 1993, Momma and I took a trip to Europe.

It was her first time, my second.

We bought EuroRail passes and went from Rome to Madrid

then down to Gibraltar and Malaga.

Here she is in Spain.

I think it's one of my favorite pictures of her on the trip.

Her conservative nature was sorely tested on our first trip to the beach.

She just didn't know where to look.

She asked how they could just "run around like that."

I explained that women often went topless in Europe at the beach,

and men didn't wear swim trunks like in the States.

They wore swim briefs.

Poor, Momma.

She learned a lot about different cultures on that trip.

But then, she was the one who always told me that it was

important to travel because 

"to truly understand people

you have to know where they come from, and

you should travel to see that not everyone does things the same way

so that you don't go around thinking your way is the only way.'

C is for Cruise

Back in May of last year, I wrote about my mother's illness and how my only hope was that she would make it to a planned cruise in September.  She did...

We traveled from our home in Northern California to Portland

where we caught a train...

Which took us to Vancouver, BC where we caught our boat...

Momma checking out the view of Canada Place

from her cabin balcony...

And some of the other things she saw...

She did make it off the boat a couple of times...

We had a lot of fun...

And then got off the boat to get on a bus for an inland adventure...

We saw Denali

She wasn't crazy about her seatmate...

But she enjoyed the travel...

And she checked off one of her bucket list items...

Which I am happy she lived to do...

She's got a few more, including some we'll be

hitting this month, so stick around...

She's not done yet...!

Birthday Shuffle Year V - Day 29 - 50 Ways to Say Goodbye

I love quirky songs, and when I first heard this one I was hooked...  especially when I heard the mariachi music for the opening...

 

 

And then I really heard the lyrics... I mean, what else could be funner, and more truer, than this..?

 

"My heart is paralyzed
My head was over sized
I'll take the high road like I should

 You said it's meant to be
That it's not you, it's me
You're leaving now for my own good

 

That's cool, but if my friends ask where you are I'm gonna say

She went down in an airplane
Fried getting suntan
Fell in a cement mixer full of quicksand
Help me, help me, I'm no good at goodbyes!

She met a shark under water
Fell and no one caught her
I returned everything I ever bought her
Help me, help me, I'm all out of lies
And ways to say you died

 

My pride still feels the sting
You were my everything
Some day I'll find a love like yours (a love like yours)

She'll think I'm Superman
Not super minivan
How could you leave on Yom Kippur?

 

That's cool, but if my friends ask where you are I'm gonna say

She was caught in a mudslide
Eaten by a lion
Got run over by a crappy purple Scion
Help me, help me, I'm no good at goodbyes!

She dried up in the desert
Drowned in a hot tub
Danced to death at an east side night club
Help me, help me, I'm all out of lies
And ways to say you died

 

I wanna live a thousand lives with you
I wanna be the one you're dying to
Love, but you don't want to

 

That's cool, but if my friends ask where you are I'm gonna say
That's cool, but if my friends ask where you are I'm gonna say

 

She went down in an airplane
Fried getting suntan
Fell in a cement mixer full of quicksand
Help me, help me, I'm no good at goodbyes!
She met a shark under water
Fell and no one caught her
I returned everything I ever bought her
Help me, help me, I'm all out of lies

She was caught in a mudslide
Eaten by a lion
Got run over by a crappy purple Scion
Help me, help me, I'm no good at goodbyes!

She dried up in the desert
Drowned in a hot tub
Danced to death at an east-side night club
Help me, help me, I'm all out of lies
And ways to say goodbye"

#522 -W is for Weary Traveler

I have been away from home for two weeks. We left for SoCal(12 hours). Went from there to Willliams, AZ (7 hours). Took the train to the Grand Canyon (3 hours). Spent the night at the Grand Canyon, then returned to Wiliams. Left the next morning for Sedona (1.5 hours) then off to Laughlin, NV(5 hours).

Spent three days in Laughlin before returning back to SoCal(4.5 hours). Drove up to Oakland where my DH stayed to go hang gliding before heading home, while I drove to Sacramento(2 hours) and worked 4 shifts. I drove back to Oakland yesterday to present at a conference today, and have now been sitting at SFO waiting for my plane (which, naturally is delayed) for the last 4 hours with about another two to go.

A short hours' drive after I get to the airport will finally get me back home....

Did I mention I love to travel...?

#538 - N is for National Parks

Momma always said the most important thing you could do for yourself in life was to travel.  

And, so we have... and still do... 

as much as she can handle...

Look familiar...?

Yes, it's the Grand Canyon...!

And, here's Momma at almost 75 enjoying the view...

She doesn't care that she looks like an eskimo...

For her it's all about warmth and comfort,

and her new Patagonia jacket...

And traveling in style...

I alway like to read local books

whenever I go somewhere...

But, this book has me freaked out...

It's a very macabre book about all the deaths

that have occurred in the canyon and

how they occurred.

Suffice it to say, I am getting nowhere near

the edge of a cliff,

going off any marked trail,

nor going down into the canyon

without an experienced guide,

a satellite phone,

GPS unit,

and about a week's worth of water for a day hike...

For now, Momma and I will hunker down 

and enjoy to view from way over here...!