Facebook, the never-ending source of entertainment, showed me another one of those fun test-like thingies.
Naturally, I was game.
Then I got kinda sad although I realize that wasn’t the point.
You see, once upon a time I was convinced that by age 47, I would’ve seen most of the world. Clearly, that didn’t happen.
Worse, traveling doesn’t even appeal to me anymore. Flying became so obnoxious, with such long lines, and all of that “take your coat, your belt, your shoes off and while we’re at it let me grope you too” security thing. Everybody is suspect. Everybody is a potential terrorist. Damn you bloody real terrorists of the world, and not just because you made travelling so inconvenient for the rest of us.
Long gone are the days when I longed to see Machu Pichu, the Altamira caves, the Valley of the Kings, the Potala, the Taj Mahal and so many other wonders with my own eyes. Health issues alone prevent me from going to places warmer than 25⁰ C, for example. Going into heat stroke is not my idea of a fun holiday, thank you very much.
I still hope I get to experience Norway, the fjords and the midnight sun on a beautiful Summer Solstice (or a crappy one, for that matter) some day. I’d die happy if I can do it.
Visiting England, Scotland, Ireland and Germany would be nice too but not required for the happy-dying thing.
All things considered, I’ve fared well. I did some travelling and I did get to cross several of my Bucket List items. I did get to visit The Avenue of the Dead in Teotihuacán. I was at the steps of the Pyramid of the Sun but couldn’t climb it because it was a stupid hot summer day and you know, bloody heat exhaustion/strike was an issue even at 15 years old.
Pro tip: Do NOT spend the June Solstice anywhere below the 49th parallel north! In fact, the only suitable place to be on that day, other than Norway, is Middle-Earth (also known as New Zealand).
What I did do though, was climb part of the Pyramid of the Moon and it was awesome.
You gotta admit, that is a pretty rad thing to do at 15.
I am sad but at the same time I am not. Sad for the missed goals and the could have beens but at the same time happy for the goals achieved and the been-there-done-thats.
Also,
to you all!
Summer Solstice Musings 