We have been planning this year of travel for ages. When we were falling in love – we planned to travel with our imaginary “kids”. We talked about showing these imaginary children other cultures, exposing them to new foods, customs and lifestyles, to urban centers and rural villages, to trains rides, boat rides, bus rides and bike rides. We lay on the rocks of Georgian Bay drinking wine and looking at the night sky streaked with stars and listening to the moving water. It was romantic, carefree and idyllic. Well now our year is here!

I feel many things the most of which is fear and anxiety. I can not believe what has become of my adventuresome spirit – I think it may have leaked out of my body while giving birth to my real live children. The ones I am pathologically driven to keep out of harms way. I have woken up numerous nights with my heart pounding from an insanely ridiculous disaster dream – cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis, road accidents, abductions and terrorist attacks. Apparently I think we are travelling into an action movie. Luckily I have Chris who promises to gently pull me out of my fear spirals and encourage me to push my new boundaries. I also have Anderson and Sabine and I don’t want to teach them fear so here we go!

Listen to the mustn’ts child. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossible, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me……(or actually….listen to your Dad…yes listen to him) Anything can happen, child. Anything can be. -Shel Silverstein (with Erin Malin). Where the Sidewalk Ends