Let the Adventure Begin

If life is about the journey and not the destination, I sure get delayed a lot. Indianapolis started the trend with a forty-five minute delay, only for Washington Dulles to follow suit with an hour and a half delay. Nevertheless, I enjoyed every minute of it. I’m here at JFK in New York City, and cannot think of a better place to people watch. From the cantankerous security personnel, to the finely dressed business professionals, you really do see it all at the airport. I like to think of it as an international Wal-Mart (and feel strongly that there should be a website entitled “People of the Airport.”) I see people alone and wonder if they are rushing home to see their long-awaited lover; I see people with hiking packs and wonder where their next adventure is taking them; I see women in high heels and wonder what they were thinking when they decided to wear that on a midnight flight with a twelve hour layover?! And here I am in my yoga pants, old t-shirt, disheveled hair, and without make-up observing it all and waiting for the adrenaline to kick in that I am actually going on a trip I have been dreaming of for years. I wonder what they think when they see me?
Somehow I managed to pack everything I wanted in a forty-two and a half pound suitcase. Looking back, I would probably be content with my backpack, my laptop, my camera, a good fitting pair of jeans, and my Columbia fleece. Albeit, with a two and a half week trip, they might start to walk on their own after awhile. It is 9:03 AM Thursday, I leave JFK at 11:00 AM, and get into Cape Town sometime around 2:00 PM Friday afternoon. With Cape Town being only six hours ahead, I am not concerned about jet lag. I need to purchase an adapter when I get to Johannesburg (the one lay-over I have in Africa). My phone will be turned off, but feel free to comment or email me at smdickinson1@gmail.com.
“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” Andre Gide
Cheers,
Stacey

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