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Before the Beginning
Today I left Toronto; flew to Chicago O'Hare, and am now aboard Iberia Airlines flight 6274 to Madrid on my way to the Camino. I'd had a headache for a few days before I left, and this morning arrived at the airport feeling quite ill, though not sure why....Matt chalked it up to the stress of the last few busy days, lack of food and sleep (I habitually pull all-night ears before a trip; I think they bring me good luck), and a bit of anxiety as to whether I'd be able to get the airlines to let me take my creatively packed backpack as carry-on. So lots on my mind going in to mess with my Zen. But as soon as I cleared security with luggage attached, my brain unclenched, and the ache and nausea disappeared. I love to travel, especially reasonably lightly, and setting off for a trip like this on a warm sunny day, when I know there are many more ahead that I will be able to wallow in as I walk.... Well, who WOULDN'T be cheered by that?
The single most frequent question I've been asked in the six-eight months (er, 12 years,actually) since I've been planning this is, "Are you going alone?". I always replied yes -- this has always been something I envisioned doing as a personal test and solo challenge, and Matt will meet me only at the end (and make sure I'm finally fed properly!) for some joint adventuring. But now I'd like to change my answer. I've gotten so much interest, encouragement and cheerleading over the last few days -- during a get-together with my family, a lovely surprise sendoff from my colleagues at work, hugs and props from my Panterky PLAST girl scouts, letters and small tokens of affection to tuck away and carry with me as I walk, even good wishes from strangers, and of course many personal "tasks" to occupy my mind as I go along -- that the last few days have made me realize I am anything but alone in this. I feel like I have a ton of people behind me to push me along, and that is a wonderful, unexpected feeling to bring for the start of the voyage. Thanks to you all for assuring that, whatever else happens, I will never feel lonely on the road.
Some other thoughts at the start of the travels:
- I totally have too much stuff. I already know it. The 20-ish pound backpack is actually pretty easy to carry, and sits surprisingly lightly on my shoulders and hips....but I have known all along I would fret and bring too much stuff I won't need for contingencies that won't happen and am sighing and shaking my head at myself. On the plus side, this will make every new thing I can shed a delight to anticipate and relish. Goodbye, empty shampoo bottle! So long, protein bars eaten for breakfast! I no longer need you, toque! The longer I go, the lighter my load can get (Camino Life Metaphor #187)....I'm hoping this will help me acquire that taste for minimalism that Matt so desperately wishes I would learn. Anyone want a notebook? I think I have a few to give away....:-)
- My favourite part of air travel is finding out what the in-flight entertainment is gonna be. Will I get to choose a series of flicks on my personal screen? And if it's one movie for the whole flight at once, what might it be? It's like a non-gambler's version of roulette -- oo, what's it gonna be?!
As it turns out, this is a one-movie-fits-all flight with general screens, and apparently the movie is the Seth Rogen/Barbra Streisand "comedy" THE GUILT TRIP. It's about a mom and adult son roadtripping to Florida. I actually thought about taking my mom to see it to compare it to our (much less gripey, no less comic) trip to Fort Lauderdale a few years back, but the reviews made me think better of it...but I remained curious, so now I guess I'll get to find out whether I should have taken her after all. So as far as the gambling metaphor goes, I'd say I broke even.
-Surprise! The assigned challenges are beginning already! Matt is on a lifelong campaign to get me to like olives, which I hate. (In fact, I'm pretty sure he married me just to devote himself to the mission of making this happen.) He has a particular faith that his beloved Spanish varieties will win me over. So his task for me on this trip is to taste, if not eat, every olive I happen to encounter in my meals (as opposed to my preferred approach of flicking them off the pizza or shoving them to the side). Fair enough; when in Spain and all that.
But apparently the challenge extends to unclaimed airspace, because when my in-flight meal arrived, lo and behold alongside the tuna salad was a solitary black olive. I almost laughed out loud. Okay, so now what? Does this count? In the spirit of the trip, I decided to honour the request. Reader, I swallowed it. ("I can't believe I ate the whole thing!") For a black olive, it actually wasn't that bad, though I'm glad it was only one. I was so proud of myself I went on to eat the cheese that came with my bread as well,another minor pushing of the envelope. It seems the expansion of horizons is already underway! ;-D
- Amused that when the festival of carbohydrates known as breakfast was served - complete with a mini Kit Kat bar alongside the sweet pastries - I found myself diving into it without compunction. It would seem that the looming prospect of walking off a pound of calories a day invites an enjoyment of appetite that is wonderfully liberating. One more thing to look forward to on the journey ahead!
- comments
Lex While we didn't get to see you before you left, please know that our thoughts are with you on this trip too. Keep dry, look after your feet and immerse yourself in the experience.