Old Man, Life Soundtrack

Our Ghost Hotel- San Diego

Traveling is such an amazing experience. You don't have to hop a plane for 8+ hours to experience the beauty of being a traveler... the beauty is always with you- it is merely the mind of the explorer that recognizes the adventure. In all of my adventures I have found that it is the tiny memories- the silly every day happenings are the things that I never forget. When you actually feel your perspective shift and it tickles- it is a time when change or pushing your own comfort zone comes as a pleasure (often because you have no choice). You accept it and embrace it- it becomes part of your journey.

For me music plays a huge role in signaling these memories. A certain song will come on and I will snap back to a moment in the past as if it were the soundtrack to my life.

Some are really embarrassing- like how I really emotionally connected with Avril Lavigne's "I'm with You," while driving through the Hungarian countryside.

I will never forget when I bought The Who's, Quadrophenia, and my sister, Joanie, Abby,  and Jenny listened to it while taking the coast back from San Francisco. The sounds and effects just seemed so fitting for driving through a forested area especially just outside of Frisco. We all even said that out loud.

Coming home the morning after a night in Hollywood with my good friend, Brian C.  hearing, "Passenger Side," by Wilco for the first time in between The Raspberries greatest hits.

Sick as a dog heading up California coast to Portland singing the Fugees, "Killing Me Softly," with Matty B.

Cactus Garden at Balboa Park

All this to say, I have sealed another beautiful moment in my life this weekend with a new favorite of mine. It kept popping up all weekend; it was definitely an act of iPod but it just suited the weekend. It was a few of Neil Young's older song but particularly, "Old Man." The Ghost Hotel, Zanzabar, Secret Speakeasy, and forgetting to tip the valet. Walking through Balboa Park, listening to the Spreckle's outdoor Organ, the Friendship garden, the self-deprecating magician and the cactus garden. Even driving over the Coronado bridge during sunset Young's high pitched voice carried through. The moment this was sealed, however, was just before seeing Wilco at Copley Symphony Hall I was sitting in the car resting with Marissa before we went to get dinner. Old Young started his song and I couldn't help but to think of the influence he had on the band I was just about to see. So technically if Neil didn't do what he did- I may not have been in that beautiful moment with my beautiful love. It was simple. Listening to Neil Young in a parking spot on an empty city street.

I can say now that I feel lucky and blessed to have these moments but truthfully I know that it is only a whisper of how these memories will shout 10 years from now. Like sewing seeds of happiness for the future- these are the beautiful moments of life. I am so grateful that I have so many more and I hope as your soundtrack builds that you pay attention. You woke up this morning and continued your journey- enjoy the small things as if they were always brand new and if it helps keep that music playing.

Wilco at Copley Symphony Hall

Beloved Friends

Something I am used to, being only potentially wealthy, is managing what little options I have and enjoying the simplicity of discovering the new. This has given me such a love/hate relationship with traveling alone. My first trip to Spain was a solo mission to Zaragoza and talk about limited options. I barely found the train from Madrid and when I did eventually arrive I had no idea where I was and nobody wanted to speak English to me. Being shy myself I was at a loss of communication until my friend Lee showed up for a few days. I loved Zaragoza and the little of Madrid I saw, but honestly what I remember most was my time alone. I had no car, no phone, no friends, and not much money, and this was exhilarating to me.

Now I just arrived a few weeks ago from my second trip to Spain where I was in a similar situation. This time Barcelona. Why Spain you may ask? I have wondered the same thing, but honestly I travel by my gut and, of course, opportunity. Spain has called me twice. This trip was especially fantastic because I was generously hosted by my beloved friend Crissy and my friend Dan was travelling there. We spent the whole two weeks together, with and without Dan, and similarly to my previous trip, it is not the city I remember but the time we spent there.

This trip I learned that people see what they want to see wherever they go. Sure Antoni Gaudí's architecture is beautiful and the Spanish sunrise over the Mediterranean is awe inspiring. Riding bikes through the carefully lit streets and fighting the crowds on las ramblas will always stay in my mind, but those are subtext to me.

I see everyone laughing at Dan while having Fernando's birthday dinner. I see Crissy's tiny dog, Lola, peeing all over the place when I walked in the house for the first time. I see eating grapes while the ball drops on New Years. I see the people I met personally and their unique quirks. There are so many special and unique memories I could write for days.

Many people can have Spain, or anywhere they want, but only I have these friends and these moments. These are my world and they mean the world to me.

So to my beloved friends I say thank you for such precious moments. Each one a journey, an inspiration, and a precious memory.