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17 May 2002 (Friday): under the dog-star sail

Planning vacations is like a miniature version of planning life for me -- a small-scale dry run. It begins with a dream, a scrap of whimsy: ooh, that would be nice, I think, and the thought hovers in the back of my head, glowly more brightly with each passing day. Research and active daydreaming ensues; the picture gets sharper. Then an assessment of reality's restrictions: financials, available time, skill qualifications and physical/mental preparedness for the intended adventure. And then at some point, fate willing, the *gulp*-here-it-goes moment, the jump across the crevasse, and before I know it I'm knee-deep in itineraries, guidebooks and confirmation numbers, clutching my much-creased papers on the way to the terminal.

Whee!

I have never had a bad vacation. There have been times I wished the majority rule had decided on a different destination (when my cousins and Emmett and I were given an "anywhere in the world for two weeks" graduation present a few years ago, my votes for New Zealand or Nepal or West Africa were shot down in favor of France. France! Sure, we speak the language a little, but c'mon guys, everyone goes to Europe). There have been occasions of relationship crisis (making arrangements for any trip became a touchy subject for me with Zach, and we technically broke up on one once). But I guess I don't believe in bad vacations, because the whole point of them is the experience of being somewhere different, how that affects me and the people I'm with. Whether it's positive or negative is sometimes beyond my control, and I don't ask that it always be pleasant or relaxing. Vacations for me aren't an escape from life, but rather an intensification of it.

Now, I have laundry to do and bags to pack. (This time 'round it's the Oregon Shakespeare Festival; I won't be seeing Mt. McKinley for another month or so.) Be sure to throw wild parties and get into trouble with the authorities, and generally do all sorts of things I wouldn't do while I'm gone. Take care, everyone!

posted by enjelani @ 04:58 PM PST

Replies: 2 comments

Yeay, Oregon Shakespeare Festival!

posted by Jim @ 22 05 2002 12:20 AM PST

welcome back. :)

gabe used to say that he had "the mortal fear."

he had it once was when he first gazed at the opening shot of my webpage, which i have been told looks like an obituary.

posted by echeng @ 23 05 2002 11:13 PM PST