It's Who You Know

I know my cousin, Jay, and he knows just about everyone who works at Logan Airport. After introducing me to members of the bomb squad (including a gorgeous German Shepard), he walked me over to the Sky Lounge where I got to pretend I was a VIP for a short while. He also surprised me with a new and improved seat assignment! I'm not sure if I was in first class or business class, but I know I was in a fancy seat...and it came with just about anything I wanted. Within two minutes of boarding I heard, "Welcome aboard, may I offer you a glass of champagne?" This was soon followed by a delicious multi course meal (including two desserts because I couldn't decide between tiramisu and an ice cream sundae), a couple glasses of Reisling and a small glass of port. After a slumber in my reclining pod, I was greeted with a warm hand towel and cup of coffee to wake me up. I somehow missed the hand towel pick-up, so I returned it to the flight attendant and watched in shock as she tossed it into the trash! She told me the waste she witnesses on airplanes makes her sick to her stomach. I found the handtowel incident particularly ironic because I had just been thinking about the one thing I forgot at home: a washcloth. Also on my mind was the contrast between life in the ritzy part of the plane and my soon-to-be life in a developing country...and how so many of us take so much for granted, whether it be handtowels or clean water, food, an education (you name it, really). I loved being a passenger in the fancy section, though, and loved it even more after telling my co-passengers how I got there and where I was going. :)

Selfishness is the New Selflessness

Earlier this year I realized I needed to fulfill my dream of seeing the world's last remaining Mountain Gorillas...and while I'm at it, I figured I might as well go immerse myself in a Spanish-speaking country (something I've longed to do!)...and once I'm bilingual and if I still have time & money, maybe I should also go on down to Machu Picchu! What am I waiting for? I'm single, child-free, pet-free, debt-free, mortgage-free, and presumingly about half-way through my life. The time for my dreams to come true is now...so here I go!


To do list:
- Request one-year leave of absence from my teaching job. Granted.
- Convince my mother that I'll be safe. Done.
- Move out of my apartment and put "stuff" in storage. Done.
- Figure out how not to deplete my entire savings. TBD.

It's hard to feel free when you have a U-Haul FULL of stuff!

My first month of freedom was spent sleeping, celebrating with friends and moving out of my apartment. Then I headed to New England for three weeks of fun with some of my favorite people. I experienced a magical two days of music at the Newport Folk Festival...and then spent a few days in Wellfleet, my favorite childhood summer vacation spot. Spent the next two weeks creating special memories with my family around Massachusetts and New Hampshire, while also eating as much New England food as humanly possible. I've gained 20 pounds over the last two months, but I don't care. I'm the happiest I've ever been.

Lake Winnipesaukee reggae festival for my Grandma Mary's 87th birthday celebration!