Tag: youth

Posted in Experience, Fun, daily prompt, life

Six weeks at 18

Posted on by Dede

What’s the longest trip you’ve ever taken?

The summer between my freshman and sophomore years of university, I was 18 years old. A poster advertising six weeks in Europe for college students grabbed my attention.

I called, long before emails and internet, and asked for references. They sent me a couple names and phone numbers. After being assured they had a wonderful time, I was ready to go.

I saved my money, and signed up. I had an adventure, 13 countries in six weeks. I had a wonderful time and it began my love of international travel. We traveled to countries that no longer exist. Yugoslavia, East Berlin, Czechoslovakia which now are not on the map.

One young man had grown a beard. They wouldn’t allow our bus into Czechoslovakia. He didn’t match his passport photo. We waited a very long time while he shaved off his thick beard without any scissors to trim it down.

We went trip through Checkpoint Charlie, which is now a visitor site, but not so in 1979. We were instructed not to lose our passports because the GDR would see that as helping an East German escape. I distinctly remember walking out of a very colorful and vibrant city, West Berlin, into a depressing, gray, sad world, East Berlin.

I was gone somewhere between 6-7 weeks.

I have been on one longer trip. It was 3 months in France but I stayed in one city and went to school.

Posted in divorce, love, Uncategorized, WordPress

Stepping outside the comfort zone

Posted on by Dede

 

I have taken photography lessons but never really have just gone out and taken photos. Thanks to Lady Bird Johnson , Texas is abloom with native wildflowers. Fields of flowers are protected from mowing. They can’t be mowed down until they’ve turned t seed. This insures the flowers return next year.
As I drive I see a sea of bluebonnets interspersed with buttercups. I can’t see these flowers and not think of my grandmother. I moved to Dallas in April 1985 and the weather had been perfect to produce a spectacular show of color. I remember her telling me the common names of all the flowers. It’s a poignant memory because she is no longer with us and the life I was starting in Dallas all those years ago was destroyed over time by choices of my ex.

Now I’m in Austin. A young and vibrant city where they love music, the environment, good food and life. I’m having to search for my youthful spirit because it was lost due to abuse and time. Can I turn back the internal clock and feel and be young again.