I often see articles written asking, “What would you would say if you could write a letter from the present you to your younger self?” I have lots of things I would tell myself such as “Learn as many foreign languages as you can, as early as you can, because the older you get, the harder it gets.”
Also, I would encourage my younger self to take more risks and embark on more strenuous adventures while the body is young, resilient, and flexible. “Move, you must! If you stop, you’ll rust!”
But the one thing I wish I could go back and tell my younger self, something I have tried repeatedly to instill in my two nieces, is to “Write everything down!” Document every memory, every milestone. “If you don’t write it down, I promise you will have forgotten most of it when you are 66!” As hard as it is to recall faded memories now, it was even more challenging back in the day before digital photography. My only memories of my earlier years seem to be those captured by family photographs. For this reason first and foremost, I decided to resurrect the blog for however long. The older I get, the faster my memory fades.
BEFORE: My Pandemic Ponytail
Left on the cutting room floor. I had hoped to donate it, but it just never got quite long enough.
AFTER: With the gray comes curls, apparently.
I’ve made the decision to travel to Iceland. And I don’t want to forget one minute of it. So I am going to take my own advice to my “younger self” and write it all down here on the blog. An advance warning, it may get lengthy…
Admittedly, it’s not the best time to be striking out on an international trip. But when I booked my ticket earlier in the summer, Iceland was a “Green, Level One” country by CDC and ECDC (European Center for Disease Control) standards. Their number of COVID cases were down to none. Two months later, the country has been elevated to “Red, Level Four, Do not travel” status.
I wrestled with whether or not to cancel. While many of the activities I booked are refundable, some are not. And though I purchased travel insurance, “fear” is not considered a valid reason for cancellation reimbursement (unless you purchase “Cancel for any reason,” in which case the cost of the insurance can almost be as much as the risk itself.) So I am on my way via JFK…
But first, my layover in New York:
I had a layover on the way to Iceland via JFK. I stopped over just long enough to kiss New York hello and goodbye.
One week before I was due to depart for Iceland, they instituted a mandatory negative COVID test prior to departure. So unfortunately, I spent a good bit of my layover in Manhattan chasing down a COVID test.
Outdoor dining cubicles have cropped up everywhere. When restrictions on indoor dining limited occupancy to 50%, restaurateurs just moved 50% of their tables outside. It’s like the city has turned inside out.
So many outdoor dining venues now! This one aboard a docked Tall Ship.
I did a speed tour down the west side to get a whiff of the Hudson River. I am surprised at how much “green space” development has taken place.
It’s like the entire west side is now one big park. So lovely! Wish this had all been there during my years as a resident.
Manhattan’s newest west side park, “Little Island.” So popular, it has timed entry in the afternoons to limit crowds.
This used to be my playground.
Don’t think I’ll ever be able to take the ride up in this one…
If I weren’t so heavily invested emotionally as well as financially, I should probably cancel. But for what end? The Lambda Variant? The Omega Variant? Where will it end? At this stage, after 18 months of spending every waking moment dreaming of the time when I could travel again, to cancel might do more harm to my mental health than the risk of exposure to my physical health.
I remember so distinctly asking each of my traveling friends who were in various stages of being vaccinated, “At what point will you feel comfortable enough to get on a plane again?” The answers all leaned toward the same answer, once we were fully vaccinated and cases were dropping. Looking back, that shot in the arm seems like such a panacea. I had a lot emotionally riding on it.
But I’ve done all I can do. I got the double vax as soon as I could. I continued to mask up indoors and avoid crowds. But I don’t get a sense this thing is going away any time soon. So I just need to get on with living while I can.
I’ll be 67 in another month. With each passing year, I can feel myself slowing down a little more. How much longer will I be able to do the kind of independent travel to adventurous destinations that I have lived for since I was 18? I hear it. The “Tick Tock” of time marching on, getting louder and louder. So according to my personal risk assessment, it’s time to get on with life. I am taking a page from Jimmy Buffet’s songbook, “I’d rather die while I am living than live while I’m dead.”
Why leave behind a perfectly good chain?
Reminding me of all the things I used to love about living in Manhattan.
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For all the new outdoor seating that has become available, if you want to sit down indoors, you are out of luck. All chairs have been removed or barricaded for public seating.
The Oculus by Night. AKA what is now the Financial District PATH station.
Starbucks has a new upscale offering, “Starbucks Reserve Roastery.”
It’s two floors, with a fancy bar selling ridiculously priced cocktails on the second floor.
My niece Hannah just got her first job at Starbucks. If she sees the new “roastery,” she may request a transfer.
Found a new favorite lunch stop in Chelsea Market, “Very Fresh Noodles.” And very fresh, they are. Pulled, smashed, and ripped while you wait.
Their signature dish, “Tingly & Spicy Cumin Lamb,” seasoned with cumin, sichuan peppercorns, chili oil, celery, onion and cilantro, was enough to make me lose my mind.
I am going to document my travels in detail, not only for my own memory, but as a way of sharing the experience with my immediate family as well. As I always say, if this is not of interest, feel free to unsubscribe at any time. If you can’t figure out how to do that, send me an email at Suzanne@taketothehighway (dot) com. On the other hand, if it does interest you, then I am delighted to have you along for the ride.
“Valhalla, I am coming…”
Have fun! Boy has NCY changed since I worked in CT 19 years ago and would take the train into GCS. I look forward to your adventures.
I’m excited for the rest of your adventure. Safe travels.
Yesssss! I’m so excited to hear about your trip. It’s exactly the reason we decided to travel this summer, and exactly the reason I decided to keep blogging (despite falling readership). Move, travel, explore and document. I, for one, will be with you for the ride!
Nina
Hope you’re renting a camper! As I look back on my blog posts about Iceland, I’m so glad I wrote it down. You are correct, our memory fails us frequently beginning in our 60s. PS: Don’t be afraid to spend time at the gas stations with all you can drink coffees for $5, a dining area with electrical outlets to recharge and wifi to connect with us OK? My sis and I often spent 2 hrs there with no one chasing us off.
Good for you for going ahead and going. There are a lot of things I would write to my younger self but not too much I would do differently.
Sometimes I think my idea of heaven would be having a second go at this life…for the lessons it’s taken a lifetime to learn and for all the things we didn’t get to do. Can’t wait to follow along on this adventure with you!
Awesome news! I am always up for more stories from you.
We are in the process of moving back to San Diego and into Hans’ step dad’s house so we can help manage the care of his parents through the rest of their lives, so less travel in our future. It will will fun to read about your adventures.
I am looking forward to your trip to Iceland. Safe Travels.
Tasty Hand Pulled Noodles on Doyers Street!! First time i ate there they took pity on my chopstick skills and brought me a pair of children’s scissors! So happy to find you posting again! Like Michelle Shocked sings in “Anchorage” Keep on Rockin Girl!
Love following your blog. Looking forward to more of your beautiful thoughts and photos.
Congratulations to you for taking the trip. You’re right, go while you can, you won’t always be able to do it. I’m slowing down (68 yrs) and it’s just a pisser. There will be no more riding the bicycle in the Alps for moi. Thank you for documenting, I will read every word and examine every picture. New York looks so great, I really want to go there. Maybe next year, maybe not.
I will enjoy following your adventure and appreciate that you are including us !
We’re of mixed minds. After two wonderful years living in Guadalajara Mexico, we left there permanently in July 2020 to come to Nova Scotia, where we’d never been but had (and still does have) great public health compliance and low case numbers. Now we’re 69 and fully vaccinated but the urge to travel abroad is less compelling. So today we brought home a small rescue dog and will explore the Maritimes for however long. Looking forward to your posts!
I’m 10 years older than you are. in your previous post, I noticed you measured your achievements….what you had to show….in external terms. I guess I’m over having things to “show.” But I AM glad to hear you are taking off for Iceland. I met my first Icelander in NYC back in 1970 or so. I was so surprised. She was dark haired and dark eyed and tall, just like me, a Texan! It was a brief meeting, but I still remember it because her appearance went against all my preconceptions! I hope you have a wonderful trip, and I for one, am looking forward to participating vicariously!
Let’s go! 🙂
Squeeeee! So glad you took the plunge to that beautiful island! Can’t wait to read every. tiny. detail. 😉
Looking forward to reading about your travels!
My favorite advice, attributed to Jack Kerouac, is “Keep your overhead low. There’s no surer path to living the life you want to lead instead of a life dictated to you by circumstance.”
We felt the same way this summer. We’ve done everything we were supposed to do and I’ve waited 18 months to see my daughter. So off we flew to the east coast. Thank goodness for a son who is a pilot and got us discounted first class seats. I won’t do coach again. And I planned a fall MH trip. We’ve been still enough. Can’t wait to read about Iceland. Love reading your blog posts.
Loved your advice to your younger self. I would wish the same. I journaled intensively but sporadically, and usually it was all about my emotional traumas, “feelings”, heartbreaks, anger. So little actual writing about what was going on around me and in the world. A huge huge mistake. The journals were so embarrassing I finally decided to burn them in spite of thinking at one time my kids would like to see who I was back then. As Nina says, in spite of falling readership…document document document! Some of the more personal reactions that I am having to the state of the world are documented privately, but oh how I wish I had real observations of what was going on during the VietNam war, or the LA riots, or where I was actually traveling when I was homeless with my kids for 2 years on the road with an insane husband. Instead, I just write about the personal trauma. Probably one of my greatest regrets, and I don’t often think about regrets, because each choice led to a different place and finally a good space. I am so looking forward to your trip to Iceland, and so glad you are taking it. And glad that you wrote about how you have been feeling about things during these last months. Thanks Suzanne…
Just re-tuned into your blog, which it looks like you recently reactivated. I look forward to seeing your Iceland posts. Have fun.
So excited to be off and wandering again through this blog! Even if only from the safe confines of my home, I always love traveling with you. What a glorious first stop…NYC! Your current photos indicate a vastly different west side than I remember so it’s wonderful to pick around those haunts again. What a great time capsule photo of the separated cabanas for outdoor dining! And your skyline photos…wowza! Gorgeous! As a recently widowed late 60’s in age traveler at heart, this statement provided a monumental stir within me: “So I just need to get on with living while I can.” I am so excited to, once again, live travel dreams through this blog. Thank you, Suzanne, for sharing your wanderlust with us. It means more to me now than ever.