My first reaction to this cartoon yesterday, while I was doing laundry and working on income tax, was feeling glad I didn’t have to travel to Europe, that I could just enjoy my day here.
Having been there in the past probably makes a difference. Andy I don’t like to travel any more, but we lived in France for 13 months right after he got his Ph.D. and we got married. He worked at Orsay, and we lived in Paris for the first month while we were waiting for an apartment in Orsay. Even then I took the 30-minute train ride into Paris most weekdays.
Then even earlier memories came flooding back, especially how it all started. I was sitting finishing up a problem set in a physics classroom when four of the fellows in my class came over and sat next to me, two on either side. They said, “Hey, Jean, how would you like to go to Stanford in Germany with us?” It sounded crazy and I had to finish my homework and turn it in before the class started, so I brushed them off. But after class they explained — physics majors didn’t usually go because of the course load, but it would be for the last two quarters of our junior year, and we could finish our Electricity and Magnetism course as independent study over there. I’m a sucker for independent study, so I was in.
Unfortunately, only four of us got accepted, not enough for the independent study idea, and two of the fellows decided it would mean a horrendous course load our senior year, so they dropped out. The other fellow switched his major to math and was still going. I had been fairly isolated when I was a kid so did a lot of studying to keep myself from going bonkers, but I had always wanted to have some adventures. So I decided common sense was overrated and went too.
It was a great experience, with a lot of traveling around Europe, and even though my senior year was challenging, I remember being more happy and excited than scared and exhausted. It worked out fine and I was happy about my choice.
I worked at the High Energy Physics Lab at Stanford that summer before going to graduate school, and that’s where I met Andy. I went down to La Jolla for graduate school for one semester, but I spent my spare time reading literature and taking a break from physics, so I decided to drop out and return to Palo Alto to get a job and save some money for more traveling. Andy had always worked and saved and had $4000 that he wanted to spend traveling around the world. That sounded good to me, so by the time he graduated I could match his $4000. He had been offered a one-year position at Orsay where they were just starting their linear accelerator, so we decided to use that as a home base while we traveled around Europe. We spent half our money there, the other half coming back the long way.
That was over 50 years ago, and we’re so glad we had a chance to do it when the exchange rate was so favorable, places were a lot less crowded, and traveling was more fun. I still have fond memories of flying, and I’m not about to spoil them by getting on a plane now.
I agree with Pig, I’m having a great time in my everyday life. I also hope modern day travelers are enjoying themselves in spite of the hassles.
I don’t think “doing the laundry” would do it for Me 😉 but each to their own…although I must say, actually pouring ingredients into the el.bread gadget this morning, although not as bad as other times – the resultant “loaf” made up for it and I guess then if I had a choice – I could say “I love my home made bread…”
The main thing is to enjoy as much as we can. 🙂
wow….
Thank you for sharing those memories!
It played out in my head like a movie.
And, I’m just in awe of how your mind must work.
Your intelligence and your understanding of things that I could never begin to grasp…
Nope, not ever.
My brain doesn’t function like that.
But the thought of you two living in France and traveling Europe just sounds so romantic and perfect.
And I love that you are now enjoying doing the laundry and just being.
I’m striving to get to that place too.
Simplicity and contentment.
xoxo
One of my favorite quotes is,
I’ve been practicing for years on enjoying doing income tax. It is a great thing to practice on 😀
Today, I am the dog sitter, watchman, telephone operator, couriered package receiver etc as both the children have flown the coop for the day. Our maid is off for the day and I had to have leftovers for lunch which I quite enjoyed too. I am quite enjoying the solitude and this is not the first time that it has been so. If the comfort zone is really comfortable, change becomes a dirty word!
The joy of being retired! 😀
I’m keen on “solitude” as well…although it appears that some of my friends do not like the idea at all. “you have to get out, network…” through to “but you must be so bored”
I’ve too many things to do that boredom doesn’t come into it much at all…and as I said to someone else recently between 1987 and 2017 I was busy most of those years networking and being out there…it has been nice to retire and just “do for me-things”
on Friday I had to explain to the dear young man next door why I was coming home at 5pm! I’ve had this type of conversation with his brother before when I had the audacity to come home at 6.30pm…ambling down the driveway and scaring them. You see I’m usually home when they come home…
I told the young man most of my days outing except I forgot to tell him about the winter PJ’s I bought 🙂
I agree that having traveled back then makes staying home so much easier now. (Although our back then wasn’t as far back as yours since our European travels happened after we became empty nesters.)
I would hate to have to fly now. We’re too old to drive long distances, so now we take the train to see Kaitlin, Torben and the pups once every two years.
I’m like Cindy… I love that you shared those memories!
I always dreamed of England and getting to at least SEE IT!
and I did that year I went alone to join the Marine and Chris.
it was literally a dream come true. I see things now in movies of London or documentaries and I think to myself… I walked there! while Chris was working at the embassy he and I walked all over London every day. the parks alone were worth it! I loved every second and didn’t want to waste a moment.
now of course I couldn’t do that kind of walking non stop. or flying that far either! I haven’t flown since right before 9/11.
and I love being home. I never get bored. there are just too many wonderful things to discover! through the internet and books of course! 🙂
xo
I’m so glad you had a chance to make that trip, and that you could spend so much time with your brother. That makes so much difference.