Age Of Awakening
As we grow older, do we just tend to take less risks in life and just follow the mainstream and safety path? Do we think too much and not act enough? Chhimi and I are planning our winter vacation for this year. It has been a household discussion for the last 2 - 3 weeks so far. Winter is coming near, Chhimi needs to spend his 14.5 paid vacation and I need to spend my 9 paid vacation days wisely.
As Europe is on our minds since the beginning of the 2004 year, I have the idea of spending an ideal romantic Christmas in Paris and perhaps a rail trip to Amsterdam for New Years. However, as we are older now, we think more about the reality. Europe will be cold and wet. Is that where we want to go for our "vacation"? Do we want to spend that much moo-lah to be stuck in a ever-dreary continent where we are foreigners and do not know their native languages? Do we want to go alone and tough it out just the 2 of us or take a tour so there is somebody guiding us? So many concerns....so many fears.
As we ponder all concerns, a picture popped into my mind. I remembered my 1st plane ride. I was still in high school and full of innocence and stubborness. It was from Sacramento to Norfolk, VA in late Feb - early Mar . I was going to visit my Chhimi, at Old Dominion University. Being a "California Girl", I packed the lightest of clothes and what I thought looked good and flattering not caring the weather, which included a floral ruffle mini-skirt. During that trip, the skies were gray and weather was cold...and when we were in New York City, I remember only wearing a light pastel blue sweater, my floral skirt, and a light wool jacket. NYC was still wet and very cold. Yet because of my youth, it didn't matter. We still had a good time despite the cold...and I still have that snapshot of me in that outfit...with my eyes watering from wind and cold as I was riding the ferry but I also remember when Chhimi snuggled me a little closer during the ride.
But now...as I am no longer in my late teens but in my mid-late twenties, it is funny how perspective can change so much. What happened to those pesky teenagers thinking "Love Can Survive All"? Instead, we've become a couple thinking "Oh my gosh...it's going to be freezing...what the heck are we going to do?"..."oh no, there are pickpockets in Paris' metro...what are we going to do?"..."why can't we just pick a nice place?"....as we even ponder the warmer Hawaii Islands...we still have questions of "what sort of hotel are we staying in?"..."is it going to be comfortable?"..."is it going to be worth it?".
SIGH!! Where is that exuberance when we need it?
As Europe is on our minds since the beginning of the 2004 year, I have the idea of spending an ideal romantic Christmas in Paris and perhaps a rail trip to Amsterdam for New Years. However, as we are older now, we think more about the reality. Europe will be cold and wet. Is that where we want to go for our "vacation"? Do we want to spend that much moo-lah to be stuck in a ever-dreary continent where we are foreigners and do not know their native languages? Do we want to go alone and tough it out just the 2 of us or take a tour so there is somebody guiding us? So many concerns....so many fears.
As we ponder all concerns, a picture popped into my mind. I remembered my 1st plane ride. I was still in high school and full of innocence and stubborness. It was from Sacramento to Norfolk, VA in late Feb - early Mar . I was going to visit my Chhimi, at Old Dominion University. Being a "California Girl", I packed the lightest of clothes and what I thought looked good and flattering not caring the weather, which included a floral ruffle mini-skirt. During that trip, the skies were gray and weather was cold...and when we were in New York City, I remember only wearing a light pastel blue sweater, my floral skirt, and a light wool jacket. NYC was still wet and very cold. Yet because of my youth, it didn't matter. We still had a good time despite the cold...and I still have that snapshot of me in that outfit...with my eyes watering from wind and cold as I was riding the ferry but I also remember when Chhimi snuggled me a little closer during the ride.
But now...as I am no longer in my late teens but in my mid-late twenties, it is funny how perspective can change so much. What happened to those pesky teenagers thinking "Love Can Survive All"? Instead, we've become a couple thinking "Oh my gosh...it's going to be freezing...what the heck are we going to do?"..."oh no, there are pickpockets in Paris' metro...what are we going to do?"..."why can't we just pick a nice place?"....as we even ponder the warmer Hawaii Islands...we still have questions of "what sort of hotel are we staying in?"..."is it going to be comfortable?"..."is it going to be worth it?".
SIGH!! Where is that exuberance when we need it?
