The Day Before. Sounds like a murder mystery, yes? No. I’ve learned to treasure at least 24 hours of time before a Big Trip when all preparations are DONE. Of course there are always final musts—throw out the last of the milk and any veggies hiding in that obscure tray at the bottom of the frig, charge the phone, check for passport and cash card in your billfold—that stuff.

The real reason for the 24 or more hours in a state of thoughtful tranquility is simply to wallow in the fact there is Another Big Trip in One’s Immediate Future. Remember…being of ‘a certain age’ makes the next Big Thing or even Small Thing really worth appreciating. I don’t want to sound too Pollyanna-ish—however I am grateful to be fit and prosperous enough (barely) to be off for a week of trekking in Greenland.

Pollyanna’s philosophy of life centers on what she calls “The Glad Game,” an optimistic and positive attitude she learned from her father. The game consists of finding something to be glad about in every situation, no matter how bleak it may be. It originated in an incident one  Christmas when Pollyanna, who was hoping for a doll in the missionary barrel, found only a pair of  crutches inside. Making the game up on the spot, Pollyanna’s father taught her to look at the good side of things—in this case, to be glad about the crutches because “we didn’t need to use them!”-(Wikipedia)

Just thought I’d throw that in. My mother made sure I read Pollyanna since that was pretty much her philosophy of life too, something I greatly appreciate now but found a bit trying as a kid…actually more than a ‘bit’ trying…I pretty much loathed Pollyanna and am only beginning to appreciate her many decades later. Although I doubt even Pollyanna could find anything positive about today’s gun-happy politics and religions gone wild.

Evening Now; My travel buddy has arrived, we’ve done the last minute shopping, had a Frontier sweet roll and a visit with Steve and Michele, and are moving toward bedtime in preparation for Tomorrow’s Launch of Big Trip 2016.

The Morning Of…Strong and healthy. Ready to travel. How wonderful to get up feeling that way. It took me an evening of yogurt, no alcohol or coffee, and eight hours of sleep to feel this way. Teresa on the other hand had some garlicky oily rice and veggies, a few glasses of wine and a few hours of sleep and feels the same way.

The theme of time passing, i.e. aging, will creep into this blog called Time and Place ever more frequently I’m sure. Although T&P is basically intended as a place to write about travel—what travel is more profound and surprising then the journey of growing older—a journey which has so far, for me, been fairly benign physically and quite enlightening and enjoyable mentally. However—the sleeping-bag-on-the-floor test will begin on the 7th in Greenland.

Pretty Soon. My apartment always looks so pretty and clean and cozy when I’m leaving it for a few weeks. The better to return, my dear says my stay-at-home self to the wanderer..

Now off to Danny Kaye’s…

Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen
Friendly old girl of a town
‘Neath her tavern light
On this merry night
Let us clink and drink one down
To wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen
Salty old queen of the sea
Once I sailed away
But I’m home today
Singing Copenhagen, wonderful, wonderful
Copenhagen for me.

MY FELLOW TRAVELER GATHERING INSPIRATION FOR RIDING OFF INTO THE UNKNOWN.