I have found recent inspiration, through the words of my friend Lee Anne, to step out of the usual routine and notice things around me. Sounds like an obvious thing but I know I don't do it, do you? I walk the streets of Toronto with my own purpose and generally avoid all eye contact. The faster I can get to my destination, the better. But for what?
After a night of crashing at my brother's apartment, I turned to walk the opposite way that I normally would to make my way home. En route I saw a sign for a book exchange. I had somewhere to be but I was drawn in to the cramped space guarded by a woman in her late 60's.The smell of dust on the shelves almost had me turn around but I caught the glimpse of a cover to Without Reservations by Alice Steinbach. On the cover, "The Travels of an Independent Woman". On the inside, the worn out ink stamp showing that it had travelled from The Island Book Nook in Sanibel Island, FL. I don't know how many hands have held this book or how long it took to make it to me, but I knew there was a reason that I was drawn here.
In her travel memoir of a trip to Europe, Alice shared memories of her trips to each city through a postcard. A postcard to herself. You may laugh at the idea but I share this tradition with Alice. There is a new memory in every new place that I want to capture and share at the same time. Having it show up in my mailbox weeks or months later allows those memories to flood back. My wanderlust had faded a little but reading her words revived that permanent travel itch. Until I have a new destination, Alice's words will keep the imagination flowing. I love that I found someone just like me. So happy that I was finally paying attention or I wouldn't have found this gem!
