Life's a journey

Have you ever imagined just chucking your life as you know it, and taking off for the wide, open lanes to explore America ? With nothing but the wind at your back, and a devil may care attitude, just going, never knowing where you might end up that evening ? Honestly, I never had. I’m a planner. I like to know where I’m going, when I’m going to get there, and what my plan is for arrival. My mother, who is much the same way, once described this to me in this way, “We’re product people, not process people.” It was such a simple explanation for why I don’t enjoy the ride of the journey, but the destination.

I do love to travel. I am one of the few people who actually enjoys flying. Rather, I love being flown. It’s like a great big taxi. I’m even getting much more tolerant of long lines at the airport, always being singled out to look at my back extra closely (Seriously ? A mom from Maine ?), and don’t even mind waiting for my bags at Carousel 3.
So, what was it about “Queen of the Road: The True Tale of 47 states, 22,000 miles, 200 pairs of shoes, 2 cats, 1 poodle, a husband and a bus with a will all its own” by Doreen Orion that was incredibly appealing to me ? The author writes as I would speak. She hates camping, she hates hiking, she loves to live (and work !) in her pajamas, she’s an animal lover and she has cocktail recipes for every chapter. In short, she’s my kind of Jewish American Princess. Her unbelievably humorous take on this voyage is both internal and external: she describes her own personal transformation from her initial reaction of shock and horror to acceptance of honoring her husband’s dream. She then moves from grudgingly seeing the positive side of living on a bus for a year….she can wear her jammies all the time…to a deeper appreciation for her husband and truly “seeing” our country, not just ‘fly in, visit, and get out’ travel that I’m used to. The couples’ outrageous misadventures from a bus door, possessed by demons, swinging open at unsafe times to the bus’ high end overhaul’s amenities rarely working, makes for slapstick comedy, and a laugh out loud read. Doreen Orion is so funny, as I read the book sitting outside my son’s school for pick up time, I think the mothers walking by my car were sure I had multiple personalities. I could almost see them dialing 911 to say “There is a crazy mother in a tan SUV, who is laughing as everyone walks by her car. She needs help now. Send strong men in white coats !”.

Considering that I’m exceptionally claustrophobic, whine on even the shortest car rides and am all about the destination, why did this book make me consider wanting to do the very same feat as Doreen Orion and her husband ? I believe, partly, it was because I felt such a kinship to the author. Her own awakening to the journey being a destination, in itself, was appealing. I also thought it just sounded like fun. For the first time in my life, I wanted to throw the dogs and the killer bunny in an RV and go drive to Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore and Yosemite. I wanted to make sandwiches while Jeff drove the rig, and wear slippers all day. I wanted to see new places and feel that sense of freedom by not being tied to the never ending projects of our house. What I began dreaming about, while reading this book, was not the soul crushing drone of the highway, but liberation.

I began researching luxury RV’s and bus conversions. I never said I fantasized about roughing it, by the way. What I discovered was astounding ! Most of these vehicles are more well appointed than my house ! I envisioned pulling into a scenic drop off, stepping out of my cherry kitchen bus and practicing yoga with mountain views in the background. I thought of Jeff and me, now a full year into our 2nd decade of marriage, reconnecting with both children happily studying at their respective college and prep schools. I watched HGTV’s special on the three most extraordinary RV’s and literally drooled at the thought of the whirlpool bath and master suite “to go”. I imagined stopping off to see the kids, and never needing to book a hotel room again.
Of course, reality did set in. At well over $1 million for a “simple” luxury RV, and with both gas and Diesel prices at their highest level ever, this dream has had to remain one for the foreseeable future. But, just the experience of allowing my thoughts to “go there,” to imagine possibilities I never could have guess I’d be interested in, was wonderful exercise in freeing my mind. And, it did teach me two valuable lessons: never say never, and maybe the journey is worthwhile after all….as long as it comes with satellite TV.

My Yoga teacher message to each of you today is: "Don't think about what you won't do; think about new possibilities." It doesn't even matter if these possibilities come true. Opening our minds to new horizons (both literally and metaphorically) can be a lesson itself.