Any Disneyphile will immediately know the title line from "Circle of Life." It came to mind this morning as I am suffering from a major case of wannabe explorer/traveler/pioneer/gypsy. Maybe it's because I've been spending more time on Google Maps than anywhere else in the websphere lately, or maybe it's because I'm trying to avoid the monster that is the looming exam period. Whatever the reason, I'm overwhelmed by all the world I'll never see, and I'm at once exhilarated by the possibility to take in as much as I can.
My baby brother maintains a list of places he's been and places he wants to see. It's a pretty extensive list for a 19 year old, but he's been fortunate enough to be the baby and have the opportunity to travel with mom & dad on their dime for a little longer than the rest of us. I, too, have been bitten by the travel bug, although my vacation plans usually are consumed by the opportunity to go back to Disneyland or WDW. I need to either make a ton of money and live very simply so that a chunk of my earnings finance my budding family's adventures (Disney & non-Disney related), or I need to kick the Disney habit and give some other places a shot. Let's face it, folks... it's going to have to be the former or the only German village I'll ever see will be the one in EPCOT.
When my folks took the fam to the Mediterranean for mom's 50th, they invited Grams & Buddy to come with, and my grandpa rejected the invite. My grandpa traveled the world as U.S. Air Force fella, and we all thought he would jump at the chance to travel back as a civilian. We were all pretty surprised when he indignantly rejected the invite, and his reason was that he hasn't even been to Hearst Castle or many other CALIFORNIA landmarks, so he wouldn't go anywhere else until he explored more of the sunshine state.
So, that's my mission this summer. I'm coming home to Cali for 3 weeks, and 10 days without my Tag... so I'm picking up my grandpa and we're going exploring in our own backyard (well, technically Hearst Castle is about a 5 hour drive, but whatevs). I'm anxious to explore some other lesser known tourist attractions of the most beautiful and terradiverse state in the U.S. Sure, we'll likely be paying $5/gallon for gas, but no one said adventures were cheap!!
After Buddy and I tackle the backwoods of Cali, I think Tom and I will have to carry the mission to Michigan. So far, we've done pretty well exploring the states around Michigan, but we're missing out on our own Midwest backyard.
I hope my "path unwinding" allows me to take in as much as I'm able... I hope I find much of what's too be found. Endless possibilities aren't impossible, nor are they meant to be daunting. I believe God blessed humans with a pioneering spirit as a gift, and it's not one I intend to squander.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Make sure that have K-Dubs give you a list of Michigan things.
He has one...we've done a lot of them...this summer we are doing more.
It is crazy.
His list is crazy.
He is crazy.
and I follow him...what does this say about me.
Post a Comment