Vow Renewals - Sydney - March 2010
About Me
I am just another wanderer living with the duality of never wanting to leave my nest, but afraid I’m going to miss something if I don’t get out and explore (youngest child syndrome).
I am the wife of an Englishman, whom I met after fleeing to Sydney from L.A. to deal (or not) with a sadness that threatened to swallow me whole. I came through the experience with an overwhelming validation of the notion of destiny and a loving husband who is vastly more clever than I, thus keeping me on my toes.
I am the proud mother of Cooper, my teenage son who has been dragged all over the world from the time he was 9 weeks old in order to experience other cultures, feel compassion for those who need it most, and learn that richness is not measured by money, but by spirit. Truth be told, Cooper is my single greatest achievement. When he instinctively reaches out to hug someone who has just lost everything they own in the world, I am awed by his connection to something much greater than us all.
I am a marathon runner who likes to get the feel of a place through my soles, but am also quite possibly the most sedentary and hedonistic of disciplined athletes. If I could, I would run with a glass of wine in my hand. That duality again.
Beyond that, I like to write about my travel experiences and provide pithy (I think) observations, keep my house filled with close friends and family who make me laugh, challenge me to be a better person and appreciate my frequent and enthusiastic use of swear words to add punch to a sentence, motherf*&^# being my particular fave.
My spectrum, I think, is full of magnificent colors, like the enormous box of Crayolas I had as a child, which taught me that life is nothing without variation, and it is OK to color outside of the lines.
Favorite Places I’ve Been
Anywhere with my mom, who can dissolve me to tears of laughter like no one else, and who’s “oops!” travel moments are unparalleled. Always St. Barts with my husband, where the vibe is relaxed despite the hype, and where I wouldn’t dream of going in the high season. Cambodia is a new favorite – it is a wild, soulful place – from the magnificence of the temples to the amazing resolve of its people who carry on with their lives while bearing witness to the atrocities of a modern day genocide. Hong Kong is magic and caught me completely off-guard. Running along the narrow road around Victoria Peak and down the Old Peak Road is one of my favorite things to do in the world, though hell on the shins. Sydney is my second home, where I re-built my life and which, frankly, has the best lifestyle I’ve come across.
Places I Want to Go
Summit of Mt Everest, well, I’d settle for base camp. Bhutan definitely. Lebanon. Egypt, for sure. Borneo to see the orangutangs. Back to Africa. Back to Cambodia, definitely. And Argentina is definitely crying for me.
Best Pace to Watch a Sunrise
Unquestionably from a deserted temple in Angkor Wat. The experience resolved any issues I had about my purpose in life.
Best Place to Watch a Sunset
On the deck at my house, with kids in the pool, towels hanging over the railing, good music playing, my family and friends around, and my dogs next to me.
Before I Die I Want To
Climb the seven highest peaks. See my son grow up to be secure and happy. See people connect with each each other in a more meaningful way. Outlaw all video games. See the planet being treated better. See Israel and Palestine figure out a way to co-exist without creating more generations of kids that hate. Have a confirmed UFO sighting. Run down a sand dune in the Sahara. Learn to manage my time better. See my mom’s singing career take off, even though she just released her first CD at age 77. Have an elephant for a pet.
An Indian Summer