Flying

July 4, 2008 | Filed Under Main |

With young Christopher in Crete with his friends, our little family is each in a different country for this Fourth of July. What does that mean…?

I am right now in Abu Dhabi. Had to visit the office yesterday. Today is my six month anniversary of being in the Middle East and, so far, the only good thing to come out of it is travel. I like traveling. I like airports and hotels and being in different countries. I even like being on planes. The flight to any of the other offices is one and a half hours tops. Hell, I was on buses into New York longer than that. I was a late bloomer to international travel. The first time I flew over seas was at 26 when we went to Mallorca for our honeymoon. (That may have been my first time on a plane period.) I was nervous and that was given added dimension by the intense security at the airport in Barcelona. At that time, there were a rash of terrorist highjackings (yes, Virginia – there were terrorists all those years ago. They just never told President Bush) and the military was out in force. Nothing like seeing a bunch of 18 year olds with Uzis at every checkpoint.

It was ten years before I flew overseas again. Once I hit 40, I always looked for reasons to travel. You learn a great deal getting out of the country every now and then. It gives you some perspective. We know now that we can’t take the media’s word for anything. So it’s always best to go out and see for yourself. I want to go back to Spain, maybe see a bullfight before they stop them. I want to see Istanbul and see the famous mosque Sofia. I need to see Ireland, of course. Maybe even somewhere Scandinavian like Finland or Sweden (because I do have some of those genes as well).

It’s a big world and if I get anything out of this gig, it will be the chance to see more of it. Some countries are much closer here than they would be from home.

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3 comments so far
  1. neece July 4, 2008 4:47 pm

    happy fourth,Carlino! I.m sitting here at my computer,typing like a first year student…one key at a time, and listening to the screaming antics of the 20 something bozos next door,celebrating this historic day with much booze and a limited vocabulary…there were about 25 or so cars on their lawn.backyard,and spilling into the street last night. It’s been a swell week…for the owner,who lives 65 miles up state.The countries who punish .with impunity, the likes of these lads…and lassies,are becoming so much more attrictive to me that I’M even frightened!Sooo…I have the police on speed dial….pray for my soul…love you..Happy fourth.

  2. mburma July 5, 2008 1:24 am

    You should have gone out there, Neece! Have a brew and toss a few firecrackers. You must have something tie-dyed in your wardrobe to wear. ;-)

  3. neece July 5, 2008 5:37 pm

    ….tie-dyed???? Commie pinko!!It was always Lily Pulitzer and whote gloves!!!