wanderlust

wanderlust: a very strong impulse or desire to travel the world

I learned to travel when I was very young. My nana lived in Omaha, Nebraska. I went to visit her regularly- and boarded a
plane alone when I was in second grade. In those days I was
greeted by a friendly air hostess with a deck of cards, a winged
pin, and a seat next to hers. 
My Nana Evelyn was widowed at a young age. When the children were grown, she decided to sell the family business and travel the world. She had a treasure box in her apartment filled with shiny and mysterious things she collected from Asia, South America, Europe, and many other faraway lands. I knew then I wanted to see and experience the world.
Last summer I had the good fortune to travel to Spain and France with a few friends. After a wine tasting (and only a few sips
of wine), I walked out and fell into a well, only about 3 feet deep. I twisted my knee, and, unfortunately, train travel became
impossible with a rolling suitcase. In the train station on our way to Aix-en-Provence I decided to let go of half of the contents
in my bag. By letting go I mean making a pile of clothes and setting them next to the trash can in the train station.
Whatta relief!
My nana always said, pack only what you need, and put tissue paper in between your clothing so it doesn't wrinkle. Clearly,
she traveled back in the day when microfibers had not been invented yet, and people dressed up to fly.
I am grateful, to say the least, to have learned to appreciate her ability to go beyond the boundaries of everyday life.
She was a wonderful model. I miss her, but every time I set out on an adventure, I think of Nana-packing her bag,
and saying, "eh, I don't need to take this, it will be a nuisance."

"Traveling leaves you speechless, and turns you into a storyteller" ~Battura

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