Off at 3:30 AM for Jet Blue to JFK with our wonderful friend Alan Thorndike arriving at our  door step to drive us to the airport. 

The sun is rising off to our right and promising a beautiful day. We look over the landscape as we take off and I muse about my conflicting viewpoint of wanting to stay in the comfort and safety of this beautiful home and my desire to travel and experience the world. 

Spring in Vermont, one of my favorite times of the year and tomorrow we leave for 6 weeks. I will miss the tulips, the lilacs, and the transformation of our magnolia tree, now white with its flowers and soon to turn into waxy green leaves. I remember the first spring here, trying to uncover the mystery of that tree. I did not know that magnolia trees could bloom in Vermont, but having grown up in Pennsylvania I knew this had to be one. Some year I will photograph its transformation.

The world situation is dark right now. Everyone is positioning itself and showing their muscles. Trump is totally unequipped to do his job, as he can no longer bull his way through, spewing his grandiose spittle everywhere, while people cower under him, like insects running to take shelter. The Republicans think that they will be able to manipulate the situation, while those with any long term history in the Senate should know that they need to be vigilante. Will they follow like sheep or will some wake up and  become the black sheep of the party. Meanwhile the Democrats are ineffectual. Will we, the people, continue to take to the streets or will our protests fall like dead leaves being crushed under the footsteps of the “new regime.” We cannot let this happen.

So we leave with anxiety and yet with anticipation of the unknown. It is an adventure, an adventure that Shap and I have talked about for years… completing our round the world travels. I am following in my grandfather’s footsteps, he traveled round the world in the 50’s, a very different world for sure. Iran was then Persia and I have pictures of them on elephants and camels. They came home with a doll from every country for me and I would imagine them walking with these people dressed like the clothes on my dolls. Perhaps this was the beginning of my desire to travel and see the world. I am lucky to have a companion that has as much curiosity as I do.

Train travel has always fascinated us. There is something about sitting looking out the window at buildings, and countryside glimpses of poverty, wealth, skyscrapers, and derelict buildings, of ducks floating in puddles beside the tracks unperturbed by the clamoring noise of the train, it brings a sense of peace and meditation. Although the luxury of the Orient Express is alluring, it is not our kind of travel. We need to be with the people, get off at different places and explore and then back on to unknown parts. For sure, a berth with a comfortable mattress and our own bathroom would help these creaking bones, but it is not who we are. We must travel where we can connect with others and share stories or hand signals and laugh at our inability to communicate. We must take ourselves out of our comfort zone and challenge ourselves to be gracious, humble and accepting of our situation. We, in a small way, need to communicate to others that we are all together in this world and we want to respect and love each other for our differences. And so tomorrow begins the “great train ride”, the epic finish to our round the world travels. Does this mean that we will now retire to our chairs and stay in the comfort of our home? No, I am already planning a family trip somewhere exciting and onward to South America which we have not explored.