Asia Or Bust
I used to travel more than I do now. When I was in my early twenties, I had a group of friends that I went around with once a year. It didn’t last for very long at all. Only four or five vacations, really. But every one of them was memorable. The first time I ever left the country was with that bunch of characters. Sometimes I wonder where they all are now.
The trips didn’t just stop suddenly. They slowed down first. When we started going on them, we went somewhere faithfully every year. Then after several trips, we all skipped a year. Partly due to financial reasons for some of us, and partly due to busy lifestyles. It seems like many people have a life that’s too busy to enjoy these days. When we all finally got back to them, less and less of us showed up for the jaunts until the practice died out all together.
We lost touch with each other over the years. People moved away. They started families. Got themselves other responsibilities. Me included. No-one is immune to the passage of time, the transition from one life to the next within the eighty or so years that we have here. I used to think that I would be.
I firmly believe that seeing other countries and experiencing other ways of doing everyday things really rounds a person out. Makes them more complete and matured. Those trips were important to my own maturity. There’s a part of me that’s sorry that they had to end, even though it was probably inevitable that they did. All things end.
I may never see any of them again, but they are all a part of who I became. Even the ones that I couldn’t stand. When there is a big group, there is always at least one of those.
Today just finds me thinking of old times and old friends. And also thinking that we never saw Asia. Europe, South America, The Caribbean, but never Asia. It feels like I should see it. Like there’s something that has been left undone. I’ve always wanted to.
Perhaps undone things are the spice of life. The things that keep us moving forward. So, will it be Asia or will it be bust for me? Only time will tell.