Still going.....

So what a difference a day makes. As the day wore on, my travel arrangements got more and more screwed up, and I cared even less. Our rerouted flight to O’hare was late, and we missed our connection to Paris. We did have another booked through Frankfurt instead, and then onto Paris, but were told when we arrived at the United terminal that we need to go to the AA terminal to get paper tickets for the United flight. Even though were were in their system, we needed to go two terminals away, get a paper ticket, and come right back. Ludicrous. We waited near the shuttle, realizing there was no way we would make the flight. But we didn’t care. En route to Chicago, we realized our plans just didn’t work anymore with the way things had gone in our lives. I didn’t have a job or steady income – and thus, I didn’t need to work, for the most part. I didn’t need to be tied to the internet – and I didn’t want to be. We couldn’t afford Europe now – and we didn’t want to try. We dreamed up all the wonderful places we would go to instead. On the top of the list was Bali – and we got signs supporting that locale for the rest of the night.

While waiting to board the shuttle in Chicago – a super nice guy (who overheard us discussing the ridiculous beaurocracy of the ticketing situation) asked us if there was anything he could do to help us – we started talking and immediately took to him – he had been EVERYWHERE! (over 50 countries!) (and was married to an Israeli!). 5 minutes later, when the shuttle arrived at Terminal 3 – he gave us his business card. Richard Stump. Hat last name is not common, and I knew I’d heard it.

“Do you have a brother?” I asked, realizing this might explain his vague familiarity.

“Yes, Greg” says he..

“Where does he live?” Inquires I, knowing I know this Greg person, but still unable to place him.

“Seattle!” says Richard Stump.

And it clicks.

I met Greg Stump, his brother, in Seattle, right before moving to Israel. In fact Greg Stump even came to my going away party! He is an amazing cartoonist, and I had met him in the Victrola coffee shop on 15th in Capitol Hill. What a ridiculously small world!

The second I had given up on our Europe itinerary, the world changed.

I didn’t care anymore. For the past year, I have been so wound up, dealing with construction, buying a house, mortgages, almost buying investment properties, investment properties falling through, the crazy stock market, moving to SLC, starting my freelance business full time, running that business, lawsuits, getting used to SLC, depression of loved ones, 60 hour work weeks, no personal time, no time for any artistic outlet, materialism and forgetting how to be who I used to be.

Not having an itinerary, not knowing where I would go, not having deadlines was the most amazing feeling. It has been so long since I’ve lived like that, and I had forgotten how important it is to me. I feel I have spent every moment of the past year doing work or favors for other people – or busting my butt to make enough to support the house projects, and me and Gregg. None of my time has been calm, soothing, and well, mine. The prospect of 2 uncharted, essentially work free months, gives me such jubilance!

We will still fly into Paris, because I really want to see my cousin – We haven’t gotten to know each other too well in the past, and I am really hoping to now. After a few days in Paris, we will still fly to Marrakesh, Morocco, as planned – but beyond that, we don’t know. We may lose money on flights and deposits – but it will probably still come out cheaper in the long run.

The next hour or so of dealing with corporate AA on the phone (granted it was Gregg on the phone, not me), and at the counter flew by almost unnoticed. We still worry about how in heck our bags will find us – but the flight, the airport, the trip – right now, are overwhelmingly liberating for me. (We will see how I feel when I finally arrive at my cousin’s in Paris late tomorrow evening without having slept much)