The difficult moment as a travel writer: Do I write about the negatives?
Yes, travel is wonderful. It opens you up to all new experiences and horizons and ideas and people. But it’s difficult—no coincidence the root of travel is the same as that for travail—and how much of that should I write about?
But you see, this trip is nothing like what I expected.
A ditch. A root. An ax.
I won.
Because the wi-fi is fairly weak, I’ve been posting quick updates on my Facebook page rather than wrestle things onto my blog. Even if you don’t have Facebook, you can check it out!
Quick note to let everyone know I arrived safely at my destination. It’s gorgeous, with a dozen ducks and a dozen hens wandering around, sheep in the pastures, and a gently bubbling spring filtering down the hill to our kitchen spigot.
I sheared a sheep when I got in, and then tagged two dozen ears.
Not bad on severe jetlag and about two hours’ sleep.
one of those hours’ sleep was using my laptop bag as a pillow. ive had better ideas.
I’m waiting for my coffee to cool down in my favorite local shop and—temporarily not on the go—my brain has a chance to reflect.
I purposely chose an angle without people so I’m not labeled a creeper. it really does get fairly busy here.
Tweet! Tweet!
I’m on Twitter @BeccaInTransit!
Chatty little woodpecker outside my window. Different kind of tweet.
Today, my BeFF went to Pittsburgh to pick up a new saxophone, and she invited me to tag along. I was up for a trip, and she has the Hamilton soundtrack, so I took her up on the offer.
This isn’t a narrative, just a few oddities and curiosities I snapped on my phone while we were out along the Monongahela. Enjoy.
Two weeks from now, I’ll be on a flight headed for Scotland. While you all know about my plans to WWOOF while I’m there, that’s only part of the story. WWOOFing gives me a chance to stay in one place and get to know the local culture in Moray, but let’s face it—I’m also gonna be a tourist!
I am very, very hesitant to travel with others. So many of my travels have been alone, which I’ve loved. When something goes wrong (because things always go wrong when I travel), I don’t have to worry about anyone else. I can go out and meet new people when I need a friend, but I can always get away when I need to be alone. Traveling with someone else can be terrifying.
Solo on the west coast of Scotland.
And yet I’ve broken this rule several times. Continue reading
Hey readers, I’ve been up to the usual since last writing—prepping my packing list, giving my bike its spring checkup, surprising my brother on his birthday, and teaching friends how to knit—but today I have one simple thing to share:
This is my lunch today, and it is amazing. Eating healthy is a blast.
What’s in it?
Excuse me; I need to get back to this.
3/13/2016 Update: I more or less followed this recipe on PopSugar, but instead of making the cilantro-lime dressing (which I’ve had before, and which is amazing), I decided to use some Trader Joe’s salsa hanging out in my cabinet. Both versions are delicious and beautiful!
You can thank my BFF for today’s post. She told me I really needed to blog about my treasure map I created last year, and she’s right. It’s the whole reason I’m headed where I am right now, and it was inspired by, of all things, a presentation about end-of-life care.
You see, about a year ago, I got to hear the famous doctor and author Atul Gawande speak at my workplace. His books have inspired many changes in the world of medicine, and his talk that day inspired me. He discussed his newest book, Being Mortal, which is, in part, about end-of-life care. He told us he’s learned to stop talking at his hospice patients and instead asks them four simple questions, questions with the goal of giving that patient their Very Best Day, each day that they have left:
I turned to my friend and whispered, “Forget hospice. These are the questions we all need to ask ourselves every day of our lives.”
Becca In Transit 