“Everything has rhythm. Everything dances.”
– Maya Angelou
This time last week, I was having quite the leisurely morning in Washington D.C.
My best friend Jen and I rode the Metro into town, where I left my shiny new 35-liter backpack in her office, spent a couple of hours in a nearby Starbucks writing emails, and then met back up with Jen for a tasty lunch of chicken satay skewers and Thai iced tea.
By the time I caught the 5A bus to Dulles airport that afternoon, where I would then board a flight to San Francisco, I was feeling altogether suffused with peace and well-being. I had just caught up with one of my dearest, oldest friends in life; I was about to catch up with more dear friends in the Bay Area; and connecting the two was a relatively breezy journey to SFO via Chicago O’Hare. All was right in the world, and the world was all right with me. What could possibly go wrong?
Minutes before the bus was due to reach Dulles, I decided to double-check my flight details on my new-fangled smartphone. I’ve been reluctant to get one for oh, only about seven years now, but since I’d finally bit the bullet the week before, it seemed fitting that I put the thing to good use and just confirm that nothing major had changed. I pulled up my flight details and started reading over them:
American Airlines. Check.
Tuesday, June 24th. Check.
3:50 p.m. Check.
Reagan National Airport.
* * *
The moment I read Reagan, I felt this horrendous sinking feeling deep in my gut.
It was 2:30 p.m., my flight to San Francisco was departing with or without me from an entirely different airport in exactly an hour and twenty minutes, and I hadn’t the slightest idea how long a taxi would take to get there. I stared at my phone a little longer, willing the letters to magically rearrange themselves into Dulles, but they stubbornly stayed in place, as if to mock my idiotic oversight. How the heck could I have let this happen?
Five minutes later, we arrived at Dulles and I moved into full-on crisis management mode. A kind security guard, who perhaps noticed the fiery glint of panic in my eyes, directed me to the taxi stand. The first taxi driver in line, who perhaps noticed the wild swing in my stride as I approached him, immediately jumped out of his white SUV, opened the back door, and asked where I was going.
“Reagan airport,” I nearly shrieked – and then, because I’ve always wanted to say this to a taxi driver, I added, “and fast!”
Once we were on the road, my driver – whose name I learned was Tengene, Ethiopian for “my protector” – informed me that I was not the first person to make this mistake. I tried to draw some small amount of comfort from this knowledge, but it did little to calm me as I watched the clock like a hawk – not to mention the meter, which climbed steadily from $45 to $60 to a conclusive total of $75.
Our half-hour ride gave us enough time for a quick Amharic lesson, so that when Tengene finally dropped me off at Reagan, I was able to thank him in his native tongue.
“Ameseginalehu,” I said.
Tengene smiled, we shook hands, and then he said, “Okay, now run!”
* * *
I wish I could say that was my only oversight last week, but when we landed in Chicago, I left my boarding pass for my connecting flight to SFO in the seat-back pocket and had to have a new one printed. And when I set out the next day in San Francisco, I realized I’d forgotten all my chargers (laptop, camera, phone, etc.) in my new backpack and had to head back up to my friend Susy’s 14th floor apartment to retrieve them.
Nothing was where it should be – and I felt like that even applied to myself.
“I think I’ve lost my travel mojo,” I wrote in a text to my mother – and soon decided that that was exactly what had happened, and on more levels than just travel.
Without even realizing it, we settle into certain rhythms in life, don’t we? And when those rhythms are paused or disrupted or rearranged, we’re often left feeling incredibly out of sorts and out of place.
My series of hapless blunders last week reminded me that it takes time to regain a sense of balance and belonging in a new rhythm. After three months of beautiful stillness in my cozy Salt Spring yurt, a lot has changed. There’s the superficial stuff – the new backpack and new phone, neither of which properly feel like mine yet. And then there are the deeper changes – I’m back on the road, with a less consistent schedule and routine, and I’m falling behind on things I normally stay on top of. For the first time in over a year, I didn’t post a story here last week, there are weeks-old comments and emails I’ve yet to reply to, and I haven’t updated this blog’s Facebook page in two weeks. As each day goes by, I keep asking myself – how are you letting this happen?
So as I write this on a sunny Tuesday morning on Vashon Island, where I’m very grateful to be spending the entire month of July, I am returning to Tengene’s wise words.
“Do not feel too bad, ma’am,” he had said, as he swiftly steered us towards Reagan airport. “You are not the first person to make this mistake.”
And if it just so happens that you’re feeling out of sync right now, I hope you won’t feel too bad either.
We find our rhythms in life, and we fall out of them.
We catch our buses and flights, and sometimes we [almost] miss them.
We lose our travel mojo, and we get it back – at least that’s what I’m hoping happens soon.
Have you ever ‘lost your mojo’ in life? How did you regain it? I look forward to hearing your stories! (I’ll be taking notes…)
I can’t speak to the travel mojo, but I can speak to the mothering mojo…after years and years of raising children, when they come home (smile), I have to find that new rhythm again….”Okay, time to practice some selflessness again…time to put others before myself…time to cook proper dinners and not just a bowl of pasta…etc.” But, its good to have a little mojo disruption because it keeps us fresh. Keeps the ruts at bay. Love the honesty of your journey!
I love your idea of ‘mothering mojo,’ and can only imagine what an adjustment it must be for you whenever we return home again 🙂 But you’re so right – having our rhythms and patterns disrupted absolutely does keep us fresh, and in a way, helps set new rhythms for the next journey. Thanks so much for reading and sharing your insights!
I can imagine that must’ve been pretty stressful, rushing to get to another airport! That happened to me a few months ago in NYC, but it was because my flight from Newark was cancelled and they rebooked me at LaGuardia. What an adventure.
You’re absolutely right in that it takes time to mentally adjust to a new pace. No worries about your mojo. 🙂
Thanks so much, Lisa! And thanks for sharing about your own crazy airport adventure a few months ago…I can imagine NYC is another place where that must happen quite often 🙂 I’ll be sending lots of good travel-mojo thoughts your way once your next set of adventures kicks off!!
It happens to me all the time. I am just getting my mojo back after an unsettling – good, intentional, but unsettling nonetheless – couple of months. Can’t wait to squeeze you!!
I always look forward to your insights, Margi, and love what you said – about how losing our mojo can be both intentional and unsettling…I’ll be holding onto that these next few weeks! And YES – I am unbelievably excited to see you again so soon 🙂
Ah, honey. It’s allowed. You don’t have to be a superstar all the time! That sounds stressful, but awesome that you got to add the “and fast!”…because that’s like gold in the travel anecdote world, hey?
We felt very similarly having to leave Granada after being so settled into familiar routines for a month. It came so easily to us, I really didn’t want to leave and have to start over again. But we did and although bumpy, it’s rolling again.
Strangely enough, I was just thinking today…”what happened to Candace? I wonder what she’s up to these days.”
Yes! It totally is like gold, and definitely made the whole experience worth the stress 🙂 And I definitely remember reading some of your FB updates right after you left Granada…it’s never easy leaving a place where you felt settled and at home, but I’m really glad to hear it’s rolling again for you, and I can’t wait to follow along this last leg of your journey – have a magical final few weeks in Portugal!
Ha! I feel sorta like this at the moment as i’m getting set for my next trip leaving in a few days. I’m sure you’ll get back into the swing of things. It does feel that when you stay stationary for a long time it gets harder to “move” again. I’m really glad you were able to make your trip and didn’t miss your flight! I’m impressed it only took your 30 mins between Dulles and Reagan. I can see Dulles airport from my office and I don’t think I’ve ever done that trip anywhere near that fast. Have a great time in San Fran!
Hello, Anwar! It’s awesome to hear you’re off on your next trip very soon – may I ask where you’re headed? Any chance you’re traveling to the Middle East again? And it’s fun to hear as well that you can see the airport from your office – amazingly, we didn’t hit any traffic that day, so even the taxi driver himself was surprised we got there so quickly. The frantic, fretting customer in his backseat was nothing but grateful 🙂 Can’t wait to hear where your next trip is taking you, and I hope you have a wonderful time!
I’m currently back in the middle east yes. BUT things are very much in flux as my trip plans sorta got turned upside down at the absolute last minute. As you know my stories are a bit long and intertwined so I’ll save you from that, but ya so I’m here for a few months but might not be in one place for the whole time as expected. I have a few interesting plans that I hope work out now though! How are you? Where are you at these days? Did you manage to finish your book while in your yurt? I’m glad you were able to make your flight, I’m really impressed with that driver too. Be well.
I’m currently on Long Island, visiting my family. My grandson was supposed to meet me at Penn station early this afternoon but when he called me on my cell phone (not a smart phone, it’s just something that I’m smarter than) to see where I was, I didn’t hear it with all the noise surrounding me. I was a bit delayed as I dropped my jacket through the gap in getting off of the train & a kindly conductor retrieved it for me, needless to say it was filthy. Getting wires crossed & not able to reach me, he jumped on the LIRR train to Long Beach & did a quick run through to see if I was on it. When he got to the last car the doors closed & he was headed out. Meanwhile…I managed on my own. Was truly not my mojo disrupted…it was the world’s. We can only look back & laugh at the vicissitudes of life. Stay well.
Roberta, your story brought such a smile to my face 🙂 From the phone that you’re smarter than to the kind conductor retrieving your jacket to your grandson getting caught on the LIRR train, thanks so much for including such brilliant details! It’s funny – in the moment, these situations and mojo disruptions can feel a little frustrating, but they always seem to make for great stories afterwards. I’m so glad you reached Long Island in the end, and I hope you’ve had a wonderful time with family there!
I can see where you get your story telling skills from (Janell). Interested to hear about Vashon Island life.
Thanks, Jan! I’m excited to share more posts (and sketches!) from Vashon very soon. And yes – I definitely owe so much of who I am today to my parents…to my mom, who’s a writer and author, and my dad, who was a trained artist for a long time. It’s a blessing being able to ‘talk shop’ with them 🙂 I hope you’re well!
An author and an artist. Now I am jealous! I want your genes. 🙂
Aww can’t tell you how much I loved this blog, not the least because of my mention 🙂 I felt like I lost my mojo all week! And I was just in the same old DC routine as normal. Coming back to normal is a whole other readjustment though after the fun of visiting Megs and seeing you. Suddenly life seemed a little flat. But finally, a week later, I think I’m grateful again for the small joys of being here and having the time (due to not taking classes this summer) to actually see people! Thinking of you on Vashon!
Jen! I was so happy to hear you loved this post 🙂 And I’m so grateful we got to catch up and have such a lovely lunch last week – even if the day ended on quite a different and frantic note! I’m also glad that you’ve re-adjusted after your LA trip and settled back into a good DC rhythm…especially as you’re off to Uganda in SIX days. I am unbelievably excited to hear about all the adventures I know will unfold there! xox
Nice! I know such an oversight can ruin one’s travel mojo. I guess, that happens with all of us once in a while. That’s part and parcel of it.
Indeed it is, Renuka! Thanks for taking the time to read and say hello 🙂 Where are you off to next?
I guess these days are meant to happen to everyone and it’s perfectly human and nothing to be upset about. Travelling isn’t always easy (as you know already) and blogging at the same time is even more difficult. I’m petty sure things will go back to normal soon, it actually looks they are already 🙂
Thank you for your lovely comment, Franca! And for the excellent reminder that balancing travel and work at the same time doesn’t always happen smoothly 🙂 I appreciate it, and hope you guys are having an excellent weekend!
It’s funny – I had noticed in the last few months that, every Monday, you posted a new blog entry. As I am perpetually on the road, I admired (and was slightly jealous of) your discipline.
And then you missed a week, and that was even weirder! Now I not only understand why, but encourage you to miss a few more from time to time! It’s good to shake things up!
Hey Brittany! Please don’t worry – I absolutely understand the challenge of staying on top of things while on the road….thankfully staying in one place in my lovely little yurt made such a blog schedule slightly more realistic 🙂 But thanks so much for the kind words, and I couldn’t agree more about shaking things up – it isn’t something that comes easily to me, but I’m finding it necessary these last few weeks! (And speaking of blogs, I need to check in with yours and see where you are at the moment 🙂
I’ve been on the road for years and I’m not sure I’ve ever had a traveling-mojo. I’m almost always screwing up. Last trip home to Ohio from Goa, I had to get to Bomb for a flight to NYC and I didn’t calculate the hour drive to the airport- DUH, the airport I go to every other week! So I arrived with the plane 15 min from departure, gate closed (But this is India so they rushed me through), or I wouldn’t have made my international flight home, that I’d been looking forward to for a year! We all fuck up 🙂 no worries!!
What a mission! But you gotta love India 🙂 So glad you were still able to make your flight home. Thanks for sharing your story!
I lose my general life mojo about once every couple of months! Mostly since I’m trying to juggle too much – travel blog, social media business, and the big one, a four-year-old, plus still occasionally, you know, live – so it collapses in a heap just like your last week and then reincarnates (sometimes fast, sometimes slow!). I’m used to it now and am just happy when it’s working and not too hard on myself when it’s not!
Thanks so much for sharing your life-mojo insights with us, Amanda! I can only imagine how it is to juggle a business, blog, AND an active little four-year-old boy 🙂 Amazing! But I love what you said at the end…about not being too hard on yourself when you’re feeling out of sync or when things don’t seem to be flowing. That’s definitely something I struggle with, so thank you for the reminder!
I basically had this EXACT same experience in Croatia. I was sick as a dog and trying to book a flight to Scotland…thought I had arranged my travel from Split, which would have been a quick bus ride. The night before I checked my ticket and realized I was flying from freaking Dubrovnik…and I had to overnight. My bus broke down. THe airport was hell. And I was the sickest I’ve ever been.
Maybe the more experienced we are as travellers, the more careless we become? That’s how I feel. I end up thinking “this is so easy” and then I make blunders. Either way, I doubt your mojo is gone for good. 😉
Oh, Candice….my heart sunk for you reading about that crazy Croatian journey (both here and on your own blog!). What a mess!! So glad you made it in the end, though, and it sounds like you were able to get some amazing medical care once you got to Scotland – yay for the UK! And yes – my own little travel fiasco two weeks ago definitely reminded me that I’ve got to stay on top of things better…if I want to avoid these lovely blunders, that is 🙂 Enjoy iceberg-spotting for me!
I already commented above, but I feel the need chime in with the Candice/Candace brigade.
You know, as much as I was dreading returning home last week and wrapping up our adventure (for the time being, at least), I think a part of me was looking forward to it as well because I felt I had lost my travel mojo just a bit. Ever since we hit Europe, even though we were still traveling, it was like everything we had learned the past 21 months went out the window and we were foundering: got pickpocketed in Paris (with just a month left in our travels), kept booking lodging in dodgy neighborhoods, eating badly or at bad restaurants… it just goes to show that even the slightest flutter of the butterflies wings can cause ripples and disruption! Even though we were doing the same as we have for nearly 2 years—traveling—it all felt foreign. Now that we’re home, I’m trying to remind myself that the only thing that will allow us to settle into this new life of “non-travelers” is time. Eventually we’ll get our groove back—as you will, too—but sometimes you’ve just got to weather those bumpy patches for a while first.
I can’t believe you and Tony are home, Steph! I was so sorry to hear about the bumps that kept popping up during your last few weeks of traveling, and please know I’ll be thinking of you both as you re-adjust to life at ‘home.’ I know for me personally, this last year has really been about how to bring home the lessons that life has taught me on the road – and on a deeper level, even to bring home the person I am on the road. Welcome home to you both – I know your lovely pups must be thrilled!
Candace! I was so happy to see your post. I too wondered how you were doing. Please know that I’m out here on the Internet cheering you on every step of the way. I often set your sketches as my computer background at work, and my co-workers have come to love and look forward to your sketches as much as I do.
As Roberta and other friends have said, things happen. We fix them and move on. Deep breaths. Life unfolds.
We’re here, we’re rooting for you. Keep going. Many thanks.
Peace, Kathleen
Kathleen, I can’t thank you enough for your kind and thoughtful words! They truly made my week. Things do indeed happen, and I love your simple but profound advice – “Deep breaths. Life unfolds.” It almost feels like a mantra, and I know I’ll be repeating it to myself often this summer 🙂 Thank you so much for reading, and I can’t wait to share more sketches with you very soon! All the best to you, Kathleen.
Are you me? I think I’m totally experiencing a loss of mojo at the moment. Not travel-related, but just life in general. Forgetting about work reports, running out of toothpaste without a replacement, leaving the hair straightener plugged in… I’d really like my mojo to come back right about now, please.
Oh dear, Candice – I so understand all those little ways that a loss of mojo can evidence itself! I’ll be hoping your mojo comes back asap – especially before anything else has a chance to go awry 😉
Something I love when I read your posts is how you genuinely listen to and learn from the people you encounter on your journeys. While many people might not even talk with the cab driver you took the time to even during your moment of chaos, and you learned from him too. I love this. I learn from the stories and sketches you share, and you inspire me to slow down enough to notice and learn from those around me. I’m sure you will get your mojo back full fledged, but after thinking on this post I don’t think you’ve really lost it completely. 😉
Amber, I just have to say that I first read your comment while I was standing in line at the post office, and I had to hold myself back from smiling too much 🙂 But thank you so much for your kind words, and I was thrilled and honored to hear that the stories I share here might inspire you in some small way. Truth be told, I was very tempted to spend that cab ride to Reagan airport in a terrible silent mess of worry – but I also figured that at that point, there wasn’t anything else I could do and so I might as well make the most of it and chat with Tengene 🙂 Thank you for reading and saying hello!
Good grief, what a day! Man, I got the jitters just listening to what all had happened. I bet you were happy to get to your destination and take a breath.I know what it’s like, rushing around, making sure you have everything. I’ve taken a few trips to other states, and I know the panic when you think you’ve forgotten something important. Although I don’t think anything as bad as yours has happened yet, I remember the time my family took our first road trip. Mom was rushing us so much, I left the house without my shoes. we had to buy some while on the road. I was about…ten I think. Nine, ten. I haven’t done it again–I always double check now. Although once my mom almost went to church in her slippers. So I think we’re even.
I believe you´ll get your travel mojo back soon! You certainly haven´t lost your writing mojo as that was beautifully told.
I lost my travel mojo- or let’s rephrase that – my ‘I want to travel all the time’ mojo, a long time ago. I lost it when I learnt to love life in general, and not constantly want to run away from it. It took a while and some tweaking, but now travel is no longer an escape, just a guilty pleasure.
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