We'll try to find a spare sunbeam.
Window to the World
When I was about 5, my oldest sister Barb gave me a framed picture of a mountain scene for Christmas. In case you’re thinking this an odd choice, I should mention I was obsessed with mountains.The plains of North and South Dakota certainly did not feature mountains, and my family did not travel; I’d only seen mountains in books, but was determined to see them for myself. And eventually, I did.
Thus began a lifelong love of travel and adventure. Because if eyes are a window to the soul, travel is a window to the whole world. In a matter of hours and for the price of a flight, you can be sipping espresso at a cafe in Sicily, kayaking through sea caves in Malta, or hiking the PCH. Different landscapes, different cultures, different foods (different beverages!!)-all within fairly easy grasp.
Last year at this time, I was preparing for a family trip to Sicily, Malta, and Gozo. This year, we were supposed to be traveling to LA to watch our daughter’s commencement. Those plans have of course changed. Not only are we not flying to California, we’re not driving to the beach in RI, not traveling to our favorite yoga studio, not…well, just not. And all that ‘not’ is starting to get old.
So I’ve returned to the methods of that prairie kid: armchair travel. I pulled out some old books-and purchased a few new ones, to my daughter’s clutter hating chagrin. In print, I’ve been exploring Paris. And Morocco. Or I raid the wine rack and revisit Sicily. And Mendocino. Or Champagne.
At the store, we’re embracing virtual events. This Thursday we’ll be visiting Spain, courtesy of our friends Simon Baitian and Manny Gonzalez, complete with maps, pictures, and-of course!- delicious wine. I believe a few of the regions we’re exploring feature mountains.
If you can’t get to the mountain, bring the mountain home.