July 1st is here!

It’s July 1st, almost 7am (will be by the time I finish typing!).  Son Michael is taking me to the airport … we leave at 8:30.  I can’t remember any trip ever that I’ve taken with so little anxiety!  I’m excited, and anxious.  But I have no negativity attached to this whatsoever!  As a natural-born worrier, planner (ok let’s be honest…OVER-Planner!), and someone who tried to “pre-anticipate” everything…I’m in such a different place here!

An international trip, to Israel–my dream destination, and going by myself…I should be a basket-case!  Maybe 53 years of being a basket case is finally done (ha ha!).

All I have to do now is get through the next  long hours!  I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep on the plane or not, but if I don’t, my first day will be very exhausting!  I leave at 11am from Cleveland and then our group of 10 meets up in New Jersey with the remaining 18 or so joining our tour group.  So I won’t be entirely alone; but I think I may be the only unmarried person on the trip…even if a married person or two will be going just without their spouse from my understanding.  I guess for someone who is still working to identify herself as being “single” at 53, this is a good way to jump right in and deal with it!!!

I think the interesting bit here is this trip, for the first time, is not about anything but “the trip”, the destination, and my experience there.  It’s my own fault I know; and I have worlds of wonderful memories from wonderful travels with family and friends that I do not regret; but I know that I rarely, if ever, traveled and lived “in the moment” completely!  Honestly, I’m not sure if many mothers and wives can do that…and I envy those that can and do!

Everyone, including me, says “Life is too short”!!!!  And we’re all RIGHT!  But applying that, not just in hardship moments when we need power and every to move on, but to everyday life is not as easy to do–at least for me.  But one of the lessons of the opportunity for this trip certainly is “Lila, let life happen to you for a while”!!!!  In the middle of complete life-changing events, the email offering this trip came in and I knew I would be going–even when I had no idea how; nor did I even know where my life was going to be taking me; or placing me; or leaving me!  I didn’t know where I’d find the money, the time, or even if I “could” do this!  But, at the same time, I knew I was going.  My family has belonged to Beth Israel for over 50 years and I don’t ever recall a trip opportunity like this ever being presented…at least during the years that I have been a member and on the mailing list.

So, I’ve had my last cup of “Lila Latte” (my own personal mix of weak coffee with skim milk!), taken my morning vitamin regime, verified that my Passport is in my carry-on, and off to the shower for me.

My department at work specializes in something called “experiential learning”; and I’m going to try to specialize in “experiential vacationing”!!!!

עַם יִשְרָאֵל חַי, “The people of Israel live!”