Happy New Year! I am quite thrilled to bid 2019 goodbye, and I am quite happy to bid 2020 hello in what I hope is the best way: I am headed to London and Paris for 5 days!!Alone!!
I had plans to meet friends in both cities, and then life happened. Am I sad that I will not be meeting these special people? Absolutely! Am I scared to travel alone? Absolutely! Am I excited to go back to two of my favorite places? Absolutely!
It has been seven and a half years since I have made this trip, and, for me, it is so overdue. My boyfriend is not a big traveler and many of my former travel partners have children or different schedules.
Being in my 40’s, unmarried and without children, has made me face several hard realities. I may never take the vacation that I did as a child. We went to Florida, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe as a family. I will not be doing those types of vacations if I do not have children. My friends with spouses/significant others and those with children (even the single parents) do not want to travel with me.
This was NOT the plan, for those of you who wondered. I married my college sweetheart at 27 in a fairytale wedding, and we divorced two years later. It happens. I hope it never happens to you. But when two 19 year olds fall in love and are spoiled and think that the world is their oyster, it does not always work out.
Not having kids has been my choice, so I am not going to cry about it. I grew up in a stable and supportive family, which I am lucky to still have (knock wood), and the stars have not aligned for me to bring someone into this world or to adopt, so here I am.
The advantage of having V not travel with me is that he is there care for my fur babies and to keep the house safe. He and my four cats are my family, and I love them fiercely with all of my heart.
Usually, I am thrilled to say goodbye. I always miss my partner (he and I have been together over 7 years) and my cats, but this trip is different. I have never traveled this far from him and from this current group of cats.
I cried when I said goodbye to Tom Applehead. He had a check up last week, and I am leaving him in great hands, but I have major separation anxiety, and so does he.
And I cried like my heart was breaking when I said goodbye to V. I wish that he was going with me. I would love to show him the places that I love so much. But I was gifted miles for a free flight, and the timing for me was right.
So, stay tuned for some posts and tons of pictures from two of my favorite cities.
The title quote of this post is from my dad, with my mom cheering on in the background. They are so happy that I am getting back to places that I love.
See you on the flip.
Xx
Jen @preppyfrancophile
