9-10-2003
Just Breathe
Update from Mike
I took my last breathe of fresh air at 6 am in Sioux Falls. It�s been nothing but recycled air since then. I�ve already been humbled by my inability to comminicate effectively in Spanish with the passenger seated next to me. "�Vive usted en Lima?" I asked. But I couldn�t understand her reply. The words passed by too fast for my brain to translate. And this is my best second language. What will India be like? And Egypt? Oh well, one does not need to enter a foreign land speaking the native language. But I do hope to leave this one that way.
We are on a 6 hour flight from Houston to Lima. All is dark and quiet exept my reading light and pen. It has been a long time since I went globe trekking. Too long perhaps. My wife and I have embarked on a year long expedition around the globe together. And I am already weary. Maybe I�ve just sat out of the game too long. Perhaps I�m getting to old for this sort of thing. I�m nearly 31 now but and in backpacker years, I feel like a baby.
Met a Canadian traveler a few minutes ago. We overheard him telling the woman next to him that he will be traveling throughout South America for tres meses (three months). He has no idea we intend to circumnavigate the globe in just under a year. Backpackers always compair themselves in terms of time and distance traveled. At least in their heads. Lynne had him pegged for a Canadian as soon as she heard him say, aboot. We all have our give-a-ways. Ours is clothing. Together we pair up like magazine models wearing colored varieties of the same apparell. MARMOT raincoats, navy or royal. TIMEX wristwatches, Velcro-band or standard buckle. COLUMBIA zip-off cargo pants, tierra or sage. MERRILL Chameleon hiking shoes (with Vibram sole no less). I feel like the poster child for R.E.I. But no matter. My Canadian friend is sporting his regions gear, as is the German guy 3 rows up, and the Peruvian woman seated next to him.
The cabin lights have popped on. People are beginning to stir. But the TV monitors are still flickering brightly in the night. Some re-runs of Third Rock from the Sun are playing. I guess this is what passess for in-flight entertainment these days. I don�t think were close to landing yet. The flight attendants are starting to hand out food. Miniature sandwiches and tiny bags of baby carrots. A snack? At this hour? Then again, what time is it? I just want to breathe some fresh air again. Soon.
Goats do roam,
Mike and Lynne