Unexpected Real Life

In our lives there are expectations; a sense of what will come next.  Every now and then, a breakdown in our expectations can do wonders to help us appreciate the good things in our life everyday, but which we don't see.  Rather, we have trained ourselves not to see.

In my travel day filled with problems - a puking child, a broken metro train, a missed flight, a different airport, no internet, no smartphone, no lunch, no time, no space (in luggage), I met this fate. There I was, standing in the uncomfortable space of frustration, suffocated by the clarity of her words, "No. The flight is closed. There is no other flight today", and I was momentarily unable to formulate thoughts with any sort of clarity of my own.

Despite the few seconds of panic which undoubtedly washed over my face and hands as I fumbled for any phone, I recognized a choice.  I might have normally let it get the best of me (and maybe even me try to get the best of her on a bad day).  But this time, I chose to stay clear, to trust in something else that I could not yet see, and to laugh at the chain of events in my day as 'real life'.

With a little help from my Robert, my taxi, my new airport, and my new flight, I still said goodbye Parigi, hello Italy, hello life - by nightfall. It's still very good to see you today.

Parigi?

Recently I traveled for work to Bologna.  I was in route to Ravenna, a small city along the Northeast coast of Italy.  What I wasn't prepared for was that my name was "Parigi".

His sign had my client's name on it, so I knew he was my driver.  Then he said to me "Parigi", and I said "no" (of course that's not my name). A few back and forth minutes of Italian-English-French fusion, and we agreed I was Parigi because of course this means "Paris" in Italian. Silly me. On we go.

As my colleagues and I headed out one evening, we talked about how remarkable it is to be in Europe where at each and every turn, there is historical significance and detail to take in. Even in Ravenna, it was once the capital city of the western roman empire. So take it in we did, over a fabulous fresh pasta meal and bottle of wine. Ciao.

Keep Taking the Photo

Despite the many airports I've been in and out of, and the equal take offs and landings, there are some things I never tire of...

At Charles de Gaulle airport, Paris, its this view up the escalator in Terminal 1. I'm like a kid every time - I can't help but look all around me on the way up, all the way up!

Then when I'm up, I can't ever get over the view at sunset. I must have a hundred photos of this same view, but I still keep taking the photo. It is one of those moments when I am feeling most alive.  Whatever your 'sunset' is, keep taking the photo.

Barcelona on my mind

I'm working in sunny Barcelona this week and as the plane flew in, I recalled how mountainous it is, how coastal it is, and how much I do really like Spain - the architecture in Barcelona is unlike any other.

Tonight a colleague and I walked in the center of town among boulevards lined with shops and restaurants, which anchored a few 'hidden' squares. It was nice to get out of the hotel and prowl around a bit, even if the smell of scented cigarettes dotted the night. My colleague spoke Spanish which was helpful, but for much of the night, I felt a slight pang of helplessness, a longing to know more Spanish than I do (which is basically nil). In a former life, I think I would have liked to have been a linguist.

As I packed last night, my kids were also preparing for my departure. Carter came in and sat on the edge of my bed as if to engage in a serious conversation. Callie came in a few min later, handed me a note, and quickly departed...

Carter: mom, so is there any chance I'm going with you on this trip?
Mom: Sorry no - not unless you fit inside this (tiny) roller bag.
Carter: I can fold. I'm foldable (or some variation of this).

Callie note to mom:  Plese can you wak me up when you leave so I can say goodbye?  Check yes/no.  Rite back.

I do love these bittersweet traveling mommy moments. Yes, I will 'rite' back.