Sittin at the Med...thinking of you

So Shawn and I are sitting on the shoreline of the Mediterranean in Nice, France. It's, how you say, 75 F. We are drinking some stellar French wine and eating a banette, talking about how beautiful it is here ... and how we wouldn't stay, even if we could swing it financially because, we would miss, in no particular order: Milwaukee, RFC & RFW, Miguel's with Steve & Joni, rest stops on Aspen Hills Circle, catching any activities of Taylor's, seeing Austin run, visiting our Chi-town peeps. Here we are, at the frickin' south of France, I'm realizing the thing we treasure most is you.

Crazy kids anyway...

So I was telling one of my co-workers about my upcoming trip - not in a braggy way (I hope) but more in a so-you-know way, and with furrowed brow, he said, "Why are you doing that?  Oh you be careful over there..."  And it reminded me about something I have read - that 28% of Americans have passports and less than 1/2 of them use them.  While I'm very fond of my comfort zone (tall blonde roast, save room for cream) I am also very excited about finding our way, quite literally, in the world...being dependent on the kindness of strangers, diving in and acting like a local, and finding ourselves amidst the isolation.  How might we behave differently if we traveled more?  That's a question I'm hoping to answer. 

Happy Anniversary, Shawn...where are we going next?

Thanks for the fire and ice roses, JFM!

Leavin' on a Jet Plane

Yes, it's a trip of a lifetime...I get it.  We just celebrated 15 years of absolute wedded bliss (and if I must say, I was quite impressed that I didn't start medicating myself when the children, one by one, packed up and moved away).  And Shawn is due a little fuss with turning the big 6-0.

And while I'm super excited to see those ancient ruins (some built 2500 years ago!) in the cradle of our civilization, and see the stomping grounds (and palaces, and bridges, and churches) of all those Renaissance guys I studied about in college, and super, super excited to see David and the Pieta...still...I'm hesitating...er, reflecting...as I know there's no more beautiful site than seeing the people you love and spend time with...and depend on the most...those people that give you meaning.  Here are a few of my favorite pics and a few of the people I will be missing while I am away...with apologies to those of you whom know you are loved and aren't included here!  

It's almost time to go...love you all!

Travel kicks!

Shawn and I thought our travel plans just screamed "new shoes please!" We love our Merrells!

Bring it!

We are almost ready for our "trip of a lifetime"!