What Happened To A Backpack And A Smile?

  In a couple of weeks, the husband and I, will head for the hills. The hills of France, and a week in Paris.
We entertain the thought of being young and carefree. Hoping on planes, trains and automobiles, with the wind at our backs. Bill crawling through the catacombs, and I looking for....coffee, artists and books. We shall meet in the middle, for churches and gardens, with a wine chaser. Sounds so romantic, until reality bites.

We have ordered support socks, so legs don't swell. All medicines have been purchased, with a month ahead, because you never know?? Are there tsunamis in Paris??? Special wallets and purses will adorn us, to keep the pick pockets at bay. We have listened to three different language tapes( I think they are called cds??) Downloaded two translator apps to help us look and speak like a French person. The apartment is
rented across from the Louvre, and how many steps to walk there have been counted.

I thought this morning, lets just hop on a plane and go.

I remember a time, not so long ago?? maybe a long time ago, when I would jump in the car, headed to a surfing championship near Cape Canaveral. Packing nothing, wearing a bathing suit, maybe having a towel, and cut off shorts, with ten dollars in my pocket. That was a three day weekend, and it was awesome.

Then a few years later, a rock concert at Charlotte Motor Speedway, another LONG weekend, sleeping wherever there was an empty spot. No luggage, no money, and waking up hearing " Tied to a whipping post" grinning ear to ear.

And there were many more, "Lets head to PC beach", out the door we went. Jane said, " Lets go to New York", gone. Studio 54 hear we come, with again very little money, and two changes of undies at best!! It was instant, without a worry, and some may say no common sense either, but I beg to differ. I did use my car payment for the airplane ticket, but I just worked some overtime in the ER to fix that little blip!!

Now I have a piece of luggage the size of my Vega!! I had a nightmare about forgetting my tweezers!!! These are big things. Traveling at sixty, is different. I still have the joy of being somewhere new, I have my partner of thirty something years, to share in my adventures, and pharmaceuticals are still around.

Plus it helps to have pocket change around.

Backpack and a Smile,( I think that's called credit cards now!)

bonjour