Pre-Italy Jitters

I leave for Italy on Tuesday with my mother — an 11 day tour to celebrate my mother’s retirement that, for both of us in our own ways, has been long awaited. I feel like preparing for this trip has been preparing me for travel to Kaz. I have my international adapters, I have my Skype set up, my new Mac laptop, my travel journals, walking shoes, waist belt, slash proof PacSafe daypack, new camera. Can you just picture it now — the poster child for Tourist! I did of course pack sunglasses and a few stylish scarves to add flair to my Tourista look. Mostly, I will not worry so much about technology (except to Skype at night to the kiddies) but I will soak in the sights I have waited a lifetime to see. If only it was more recently and not 15 years ago that I took Art History classes, how much more involved I would feel in the history of the trip. But surely I will be a fast learner. I also look forward to a gelato a day if I am to do as much walking as I hope — and if the hype is what they say it is! 😉

I am leaving my family at a time when Gary appears to be coming down with something while Emma is recovering from Strep and a cough. Myself, I am sucking down Cold Eeze candies and taking ProBiotics to strengthen my immune system. I must feel well for this trip.

I have a PC desktop in the shop with a record breaking 1400 corrupted files. I bought a MAC to travel with and, although it is only 4 days old, I spent almost 3 hours total on the phone with Apple Care today because my Operating Systems were failing me. My DiskDrive was not allowing me to make copies — something really important I need for the trip and all the pictures I hope to take. I’m glad I had the foresight to try to attempt to do it today so I was able to figure out the problem. MAC OS disk still installing so let’s see what happens at the end of this hour.

There have been silly travel related stressors and I haven’t even left the ground.

I had been fearful of the plane ride — something I used to relish as I used to travel so much for work and loved the peaceful feeling of being in the air — in limbo, nothing to do but just be. I’d go places yearly or bi-annually with Gary and family and have always loved our family trips, most recently in December, we flew across the country. But now, leaving everyone at home, I’m petrified of the flight. Emma is very very sad and as much as I try to intellectualize with her, I know that she might have bouts of missing me while at camp. (Eden will be fine.) Will Skype be good or bad for us, I have yet to find out if seeing me but knowing I’m so far away will be okay for us.

My friend Sharon gave me a wonderful Traveler’s Prayer.

May it be Your will, Eternal One, our G-d and the G-d of our ancestors,
that You lead us toward peace, emplace our footsteps towards peace,
guide us toward peace, and make us reach our desired destination for life, gladness, and peace.
May You rescue us from the hand of every foe, ambush, bandits and wild animals along the way,
and from all manner of punishments that assemble to come to Earth. May You send blessing in our every handiwork, and grant us peace, kindness, and mercy in your eyes and in the eyes of all who see us. May You hear the sound of our supplication, because You are the G-d who hears prayer and supplications. Blessed are You, Eternal One, who hears prayer.

I found something I wrote in 2007 about what I hoped for my life in 10 years from then. Among so many things I hoped, I will have traveled to Italy and adopted a child. Two huge things are coming true because I make them so. I have so much more to accomplish, so much left to teach my children, so much more to learn and grow with Gary, so much joy to bring another child with our upcoming adoption. I pray for a safe journey and adventure — just one of many in my life … My story still continues!

Will post at some point from Italia!! Caio, Bella — for now.

Steph

I leave you with the video our family was in for an AIDS awareness program as signers (ASL). Blink and you will miss us! The Karps got no air time 😉 There is a shot of me alone 45 seconds into it, then shortly after Emma in pink, then at about 1 minute and 45 seconds into it, it’s me, Gary and Eden. Thankfully, I have the raw footage too.

Please pause playlist at the bottom of the blogpage so you can hear this great John Legend song.