MONDAY, JULY 22
“I realized when we went to the museum yesterday it was our last museum,” said Chloe. Both of us are losing sleep at the thought of returning. And later on the bus, Chloe said, “don’t be sad for leaving be happy for where you’ve been.” Some little ditty that came from a Hallmark card. We laughed. And I asked if we can’t be both happy and sad at the same time. She said, “no.” Hallmark doesn’t allow it.
As we walked our last walk on European soil before packing up our bags and heading to the airport, we talked about this strange travel bug that possess us. My friend who visited us in Crawley when we were taking care of Depp, read through the beginning of this blog and asked why we travel. He said it wasn’t enough to say it’s in our blood. I think I disagree. I lean toward a genetic argument. Chloe thinks it is environmental influences (me…in other words) that have made her a traveller. Chloe’s father thinks it’s because her incisor teeth are pointy. He says if you have pointy incisor teeth (like he does) then you are destined to travel.
For me, the travel gene is like the god gene. Either you have it and must travel, or you don’t have it and don’t really care about travelling. My brother and I were raised in the same household, and if he travels, it’s to relax on a beach or stay in a comfy hotel. But me, I’ve always been on the move. Motivated, I think, by an intense curiosity that extends well beyond what is in my view and takes me to “foreign” places. Chloe could well be a traveller because of her upbringing. We’ve moved so many times, from city to city, apartment to apartment and even country to country. But I think this love of travel runs deeper than that.
I told her that some people would be counting the days until they got home. She didn’t believe me. Tell me that isn’t some deep travel spirit talking, someone who simply doesn’t understand the desire to go home could be stronger than the desire to keep travelling.
As we looked out the window on the bus to the Copenhagen airport, Chloe said, we could have used a few more days here. I told her she always says that. She denied it, but I know I’m right. Back to Crawley, the familiar and the English-speaking world.
We need more time…
