July 4th 2014

Where to start?  Actually that's all we have planned so far. We are starting in Paris on Sept 2nd.  From there Beth and I intend to leap-frog from place to place for about six months.  The idea for this trip germinated from a mix of both good and bad circumstances.  After half a life time of continuously owning pets, we found ourselves pet-less upon the death of our most loved Golden Retriever, Jackson.  Grief has its phases and once I was over the drunken, wailing, cutting my head open on the wood pile and not caring phase, I became reflective.  The boys were soon to graduate from college; I sold a major business which both enriched me and freed up time; Beth's job ended and I was turning 60.  I have never been one to give much power to numbers or the positions of the planets but somehow 60 seemed significant.   I can still ride my bike across Manhattan at rush hour but for how long?  Today my memory is OK but I do not know a single person in their 80s who does not seem a bit whifty.  Without much more analysis than this I broached the idea to Beth who, without hesitation or consideration, jumped enthusiastically upon it.  That was all several months ago.  Since then we have both deeply explored the idea and continuously refined it.  I'd love to share the unfolding of our adventure with you.  I hope you come back to see how it works out.  ~p