It’s one month until my plane takes off carrying me to China with Mandarin Journeys. One month until I try to squish a fedora I bought on a whim at Target into my suitcase. One month until I carry the four novels I’ve been dying to read onto my 14 hour flight. One month until I attempt to use the fancy camera my father gave me, still in its case, two years ago. One month until Flat Martini and I get to finally drink together and celebrate our laminated love. And one month until I leave my husband and children for nine days.
That sounds weird, doesn’t it? Leaving your husband and children for nine days.
This isn’t my first time leaving them. Far from it. I have traveled for speaking engagements, conferences, and many girls weekends away. But this one is different. This one is to mother freakin’ CHINA!
I remember the first time I went away by myself a few months after my daughter was born. I went to visit my best friend in Virginia. The plane ride felt surreal. Like at any moment someone would hand me a baby and tell me to snap out of it and stop reading People magazine.
But they didn’t. And I read. And it was awesome.
But I felt terrible telling my husband how awesome it was. I knew he was taking care of our infant as I was reading about the speculations that George Clooney might marry Stacy Keibler. (Spoiler: he didn’t.)
That’s how I feel about this trip. I want to shout it from the rooftops but I find myself feeling a desire to mute it when I’m around my family and friends. Like I’ll just be able to slip off into the night and show up nine days later without anyone noticing. I don’t want to be that bragging person who says, “Look at this cool thing I get to do!” Yet, that’s what I’m really saying on the inside.
And the crazy thing is that I know they are all happy for me. I know that they would listen with a huge smile on their face and a supportive hug. That’s how amazing they are.
So I’m going to try to let the words out more. To talk about the ridiculous fedora I bought that makes me look like I’m trying to be Britney Spears, or how I spent two full hours pretending to read a book in bed when I was secretly looking at my phone trying to learn how to order various cocktails in Chinese.
So I’ll start here. I’m letting the thoughts in my head out.
YES I WILL MISS MY HUSBAND & CHILDREN BUT I’M GOING TO CHINA AND I’M SO DAMN EXCITED!!!
Ah yes, that does actually feel better. Thank you for that.
And hey, remember how I said that I’m one of five writers going? Come read their stories and who these awesome ladies are… Click HERE to read their bios… And check out my bio pic – thought you guys might appreciate it.