Travel Bug

Here we are in the month of December and the holidays are racing towards us as well as the close of this unimaginable year. Yes, I think we can all agree 2020 has been a doozy. Restrictions, closings, travel bans all de rigueur aspects of this past year.

From an early age, the idea of traveling to faraway places was thrilling to me. Foreign places, new languages, regional cuisines – all seemed so exciting and I was fascinated with reading maps and learning where different countries were located on the globe. I do wonder where that traveling spark came from, who in my life inspired me to be so curious about far off places? Maybe it was just an innate feeling that I needed to quench.

These days, both domestic and international travel are complicated and strictly limited. I miss going to new destinations. Marc and I both love to travel but it just hasn’t been a normal year for anyone. Arriving in a new city can sometimes be quite daunting, depending on the language, currency, and customs. Travel is an adventure, sometimes difficult, but what I find the most rewarding is the opportunity to learn about the people and places we visit. I’ve always been inquisitive about the how and why traditional customs and cuisines become the common threads in the fabric of daily life. Then there are those memories and stories that last longer than a photograph or souvenir.

One of my bucket list items was to see the Northern Lights. Last year, we had the incredible experience seeing them dance in the night sky in Reykjavik, Iceland.

With visits to 20 countries, 31 U.S. states, and countless world-class cities, my sense of adventure and current passport are ready to get onboard once we are cleared for takeoff.

Je me souviens

In the Canadian province of Quebec, “Je me souviens” appears as a tagline on automobile license plates. Maybe you’ve come across it when driving, and perhaps wondered what does that mean?

“Je me souviens is the official motto of Quebec, a province of Canada. The motto, translated literally into English, means: "I remember." It may be paraphrased as conveying the meaning: "We do not forget, and will never forget, our ancient lineage, traditions, and memories of the past." - Wikipedia

That lineage, those traditions, harken back to France – that is essentially what the Quebecois want to hold on to and never forget. In that same congruence, as a new Michigander, I will always tightly hold my Polish and Portuguese heritage and my memories of living in Brooklyn and Boston.

My time in New England - having lived there for almost two decades - has shaped me in myriad ways. Boston was a remarkable place to live, historic, picturesque, cultural, and after attending Boston University I knew I wanted to stay for my career, my friends, and make my mark.

Boston's harbour at night

Boston’s colonial roots lend a particular charm to its architecture, quaint cobblestone streets, gas lamps, and many parks. Boston is also a convenient gateway to Cape Cod, Ogunquit and the Berkshires. Nothing beats seafood in New England, hands down, I forget how spoiled I was to have access to the best of the best. I took it for granted since it was so easy to come by and the purveyors were numerous. This is not the case in Michigan so I’ve been trying out some online vendors such as Sea To Table for scallops, salmon, lobster, and cod. So far we’ve been pleased with the seafood we’ve received and I’m back to making gumbo, soy-ginger salmon, roasted cod, and scallops Provençal.

It is almost a year that marks us living fulltime in Michigan. I am settling into the rural way of life, slower pace and the peace & quiet that comes with living in the sticks. I’ve traded my favorite fitted trousers from Spoke, and dress shirts for a wardrobe outfitted by Carhartt and Woolrich. Intrinsically, I have not changed, but have adapted to this new lifestyle.

Building our new life here in the Great Lakes region is a new adventure and I will always hold dear my east coast beginnings and the experiences that have shaped the person I am today.

Thanksgiving and Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is our most favorite holiday. The time together with family, the copious amounts of food, and the opportunity to take a step back to relax for a few days is wonderful. The word thanksgiving formed by the two words thanks and giving is at the heart of this holiday for me. It is a day to reflect and take a moment to be thankful, to give thanks, and appreciate the people and things in our life that make it special.

This year has certainly been a test on our own personal resilience and a time when families have been faced with new challenges. With the pandemic, loss of life, economic hardships, elections and all the other compounding elements of the past year it has certainly been a tumultuous time.

Set some time aside to give thanks and be thankful. I am thankful for my husband and the family that has enveloped me. I feel incredibly lucky to be a grandpa to our first grandson. I am thankful for the friends that remain close to my heart where one phone call or text conversation connects us like no time has waned between our last tête-à-tête. In our daily lives, it is so easy to give thanks and say thank you to the people you interact with at the store, at work, or even online. Thanksgiving may be my most favorite holiday but it is also a mindset that guides my daily life.