My 5-month pregnant self and my toddler are going to France tomorrow. Alone. Because, well, we need an adventure. I need an adventure. My still-supportive husband thinks the whole thing is insane, but he just deployed, and I'm feeling slightly panicky about life in general and the continual fading of my individual identity. (It also doesn't help that I turn 30 in two weeks and may be going through a premature mid-life crisis.) So, as an early birthday present to myself, Forrest and I are packing our bags and headed to a part of Europe I have never been. We know nobody and I speak about as much French as Forrest does English. ....valiant attempts by Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone notwithstanding. But, nothing will deter the giddy butterflies in my stomach as I finalize a million last minute details and anticipate gluttonous amounts of fresh baguettes and cheese. THIS IS GOING TO BE EPIC!
So much of my young adult life was spent traveling and living abroad. Those experiences shaped much of the woman I am and the things that makes me passionate. Life has a way of tying you down though, and, now, pregnant with my second child, I feel the impending "stuckness" like never before. Granted, I have an amazing life: a caring, wonderful husband, a beautiful little boy and way more blessings than I deserve. For as long as I can remember, though, I have fought this feeling of claustrophobia with my mainstream American life. Even marrying a military man and moving all over the country hasn't been enough to keep it at bay. I still feel this intense need to spread my wings and go the road less traveled. Being mommy and wife are joys that hold no comparison, but they are not all I am. So I'm packing it all up and confirming to myself that freedom, independence, and "young" Nicole are not all lost.
Sure, there are innumerable reasons why I shouldn't do a trip like this: Financially, this is for sure not a wise use of meager funds. I am doing it on a shoestring budget, but I'm sure less hormonal people than I could think of better ways to use the money. Logistically, the trip could very well be a nightmare. Forrest isn't quite two, so I didn't have to buy a separate ticket for him.... which means we're actually going to fit 3 humans in one seat if you count baby sister inside of me. Pray for me. Actually, better yet, pray for everyone around me. Physically... well, strap a watermelon to your stomach, a 30 lb seething mass of boyhood to your hip, and see how traipsing half-way around the world by yourself makes you feel. Is it weird that I literally couldn't be more excited?
My dad recently started an fantastic journey traversing the long diagonal of the United States in an antique 1920's Model A Roadster Pickup. Yeah... Florida Keys to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska in literally one of the oldest vehicles possible. (He's doing it by himself too) While my mode of transportation and destination are vastly different, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree in our nomadic spirits and thirst for adventure. It is something I hope my children pick up as well. So, I invite you to come on this crazy journey with us over the next two weeks as I blog about all the ups and downs that are coming. I'm sure it will be a wild ride. :)