Everyone says I’ve been running around like a chicken with her head cut off since the day I landed back in the US – and they’re right. I’ve been rushing through everything: seeing friends and family (in multiple states); unpacking; buying (and fixing) cars, phones, etc.; getting Nick ready and to school (moved him in yesterday. It was difficult – for me anyway – but I really think he’ll thrive there); finding a realtor; starting my new job search; planning this road trip. And they’re right. I haven’t honestly taken more than a moment to breathe (well, I took two moments: one at the Cape with Mom and Mark and one in Florida with Dad and Mag) and I haven’t been planning much breathing time into the road trip either.
I think it’s time to stop. For a minute. And think about things. (Ugh – I hate thinking – that’s usually when I end up either in shock or in tears!) As my mom wrote on the cover of one of my books in high school (because I’ve pretty much been doing the same thing – going non-stop – since then): “All organisms need rest. If they don’t rest, they die.” I’m paraphrasing – she put it in much more scientic terms. But you get the idea. Not that I think I’m on the brink of death, but I do think I had better not rush through everything and end up regretting it. Two thing specifically: prepping my house for selling and prepping myself for the road trip.
If I leave on Sun. Sept 5, that basically leaves me tomorrow (Wed.) and Friday to prepare the entire house and get ready for the road trip. (Thursday I have to be in Boston for meetings, Saturday mom and I are visiting Nick in Salem and Sunday we’re visiting Jake in Amherst.) Not exactly realistic for a 10 room house with a two-story two-car garage! Especially one lived in by a recovering collector of absolutely everything (me). I’ve pretty much decided the house will go on the market when I leave for the road trip (just have to pick realtor), and I don’t want to sabotage myself by leaving it the way it is (a cluttered mess – even after filling an entire dumpster and having a giant yard sale). Or by concentrating both of those days on the house and being completely unprepared for my trip (although I know I can buy pretty much anything I need on the road).
So I looked at my initial itinerary, thought about what I could cut out or simply shorten a bit, and I decided I can leave on Thursday, Sept. 9, without changing much. I just cut out a few of the minor stops along the way in upstate New York (which aren’t far if I want to go in the future) and Ohio. That will put me at Niagara Falls late next week and my cousin’s school in Ohio next weekend, which are important things to me. And from there on out I’m going to take my mother and other’s advice and allow a bit more time in places to soak up the atmosphere, relax, enjoy and breathe…
Amy's America 
You sound like me!….ugh…don’t you hate the breathing part. On paper it sounds good, but after about two hours of it, you’re like, “Can I hold my breath and run again?”
Great post! Great read!
You’re so right, Sandra – I really don’t last long being still, no matter how hard I try…
The sitting down and thinking… ah yes… wrote about that here: http://wp.me/pSQ1c-sd
I am so completely envious of you. I love to travel. And I love road trips… seeing other places… meeting new people. I’m wishing you all the luck and you now have a dedicated reader!
Thank you – if you have any recommendations on places I must see or things I must do, please let me know! And I really love your blog – so identifiable and real. All – check out: http://ournextchapters.com/
Amy,
Some of my best moments traveling have been the unexpected ones. Leave time on your trip to stop and smell the flowers (or is it roses) as they say. Having a cup of coffee, watching kids play at a park or just enjoying the scenery have been some of the best memories. Some times you need a few days and some down time to find the hidden treasures of different areas. Getting to know people in different places even if it for a little while will also give you a feel for the area. I like to plan my trips and give myself a few days in each place. That gives me time to see the sights and have time to wander around, observe people and of course, take pictures. i think once you get on the road, it will all the pieces will fall into place. god always has a plan. Good luck and have fun.
Thanks Annemarie – you really are right. One of my favorite parts of my Mediterranean cruise was when we were docked in Crete (before we knew we were stuck there due to the volcanic ash cloud) and I just sat in a square and people watched (and took pictures). I promise to try to take at least some of it slow…