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Cheers fellow-travelers on this planet and RDG Readers -
I’m writing this ahead of a grand adventure. When it drops hopefully I’m tucked away in the Alps in bliss.
They say looking forward to a vacation actually brings us more happiness than the trip itself, and I get it. At the moment, in the planning phase, you dream and imagine and get excited…
Truly in my younger years travel was an anti-depression tactic.
And probably still is.
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I’m a little over a week out from my first trip to Europe since flaring my disease 4.5 years ago.
When I first flared, in the hospital and dying, one of my hospital rooms had a painting of a Parisian bridge. And Zach brought in photos of me from well times, some were from trips we’d taken. I sincerely thought that I might never see the outside again let alone travel.
In the hospital, there was a period when I didn’t go outside for a while. The closest I came was a bridge w windows I’d cross between intensive care and the floor. Once I asked my transport to stop just so I could look out… and feel the sun.
Then I got to go home, but hemodialysis limited my travel. I did google best vacations while on dialysis… I was young and there were so many places I still wanted to see in my life.
And luckily I was able to get off dialysis and I planned a trip to Hawaii to celebrate my freedom.
Now, I’m taking a trip that has two parts - one part vacation and one part going on tour with Zach. It will be busy. It will be a whirlwind. It will be with a 4 year old.
We’re going back to the place where Zach and I got engaged in Switzerland - a remote town only accessible by gondola.
We return so different than the first time. We come back married, as parents, and now I’ve faced life and death and healing.
I’m wondering what my new eyes will see in these places that live tucked in my memory.
I suspect they will be even more lovely. I can’t wait to see July discover these incredible places. And since I carry a lifetime of new purpose and renewed appreciation for my place in the world - I have a feeling, it will feel like a happy ever after for our little family.
“We don’t see the world as it is, we see it as we are” - Anaïs Nin
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? A new place or would you return to a place you already have been to?
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I started writing this when I was on dialysis. It’s intended to be both memoir and a practical tool to help folks who might be going through something similar or those caregivers and family supporting someone with a challenging diagnosis. NOTE: This is not intended to replace actual medical guidance. Please consult your doctors on your individual challenges and situations. Please talk to your clinicians before adjusting any of your care protocols.
Special thanks to the wonderful Susannah Fox - a true Champion and author of Rebel Health. She has a great newsletter too over on LinkedIN - thanks for being a supporter of my work!
Thank you to Katie McUpton, Dienna D’Olimpio Harada, CC Couchois, Roy Lenn, and Dr. Richard Burwick for your founding level donation.
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