21 Days To go

I’ve noticed over the past few years a strange thing that happens to me when I travel for long periods, like two or three months. In the few weeks before I leave I begin detaching from friends and loved ones. I don’t do this on purpose, it just seems to happen. I notice I am not as mentally and emotionally involved in their daily lives as I might normally be. My mind begins to travel long before my body does. I don’t know if this is a way of dealing with the sadness of parting, the anticipation of missing them, or the anticipation of the adventure. Mentally I begin to travel to my destination.

A similar experience occurs when I am returning home. My daughter and I noticed this when we were on a three month trip to Spain and Paris. About two weeks before it is time to return home, my mind begins to make the transition. I begin thinking about seeing friends and family and anticipating the things we will do together when I return home. 

The time of transition before leaving for a trip is longer than the time of transition to the return trip home. Part of that is the planning that takes place to take the trip, reservations for transportation and accommodations, what to pack and where to go. I suppose coming home require less preparation.

At the moment I am in the getting ready to travel space. I am antsy because time seems to be moving slowly, like sludge. It’s like I’m caught  in a dream where everything is moving in slow motion and I am only half present viewing my life as though I am watching it through a glass. And yet time seems to be flying past, as I realize I only have so many days to get things accomplished before the plane takes off. I feel as though I am in a nether world, neither here nor there. This is a tough place to be for someone who has worked very hard to live in the moment.