Wednesday, March 7, 2012

UNKNOWN YANKEE TERRITORY

As I prepare to leave home for an extended trip around the south, I’m feeling a little sad about being away from my home and friends for a few months. I’ve planned this trip for a long time now and I am excited about going but those sad feelings keep popping up.

I tell myself that I can cut the trip short if I get too homesick. It’s kinda like a mind game I play where I tell myself things to make it easier to leave home. I want to go but yet I wish I were back already. The weather here is so perfect for the beach and it calls out to me, distracting me from my planned journey.

Grand Isle State Park - May 2011

Grand Isle - September 2011

When I was younger, these feelings would never have been felt. I just wish I could have traveled more before reaching the age of retirement. I’m happy being at home now. It wasn’t always like that. However, now I’m fortunate to have a comfortable home with no one to cause any drama in my life. I’m in a pleasant daily routine and keep busy intellectually and with my hobbies as well. I’ve always wanted to travel... just not alone.

So, I leave in 4 days and the coach is ready to go. I’m really trying to concentrate on what I will be seeing and learning on this trip. I will be visiting some historic sites and attending some festivals and immersing myself in my own culture. That may sound strange but it is possible to have lived your life in a state that you are totally unfamiliar with. We have a saying down here in south Louisiana that anything north of Baton Rouge is Yankee territory... and you know what that means.

So I’m going to venture out into unknown Yankee territory and hope that they are friendly towards a Creole Lady traveling alone.

Inspired by my upcoming trip around my home state, I’ve decided to make a list of reasons why I live in south Louisiana. I’ll add to the list every day and we’ll see how many I can come up with by the end of my trip.  I'll place it at the bottom of my blog.  I've posted the first 5 and they are in no particular order.

I live in Acadiana

I live in Terrebonne Parish.

8 comments:

  1. Aw. Homesickness is hard when it starts while you're still home. I have days when I miss my friends a lot, but it was worse while I was still there.

    Roxanne
    The Good Luck Duck

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    1. Hi Roxanne... Your comment made me LOL. It's so true. I am experiencing homesickness while still home. That's pitiful. However, on the positive side, I'm learning something new about myself everyday. I never thought I'd feel this way. EVER!

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  2. To stave off homesickness I keep close contact with those I care about. Phone, email, Facebook....they all help. And then there is the adventure of new places and people and experiences that keep me "present". Wishing you all the best, get out there and have fun girl. Too bad we are not going in the same direction!

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    1. Hi Chris... Yes, I also wish we were going in the same direction. I always wanted to travel along the California, Oregon, and Washington coast. Be sure to post a lot of photos so I can see it along with you.

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  3. I'm sure once you get on the road, you will feel better about your trip.

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    1. Hi Teri... I think you're right. It's just the anticipation that gets to me, I guess.

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  4. BUT you are at the beach!!! I always want to be at the beach, guess cuz i live on the desert?? But u can always come back and u are going to have such marvelous adventures!!! Yes u are!!!

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    1. Hi Loree... My home is an hour and a half from the beach. I sold my beach house last year in order to purchase my RV. I do go often to the State Park which is on the beach, but haven't been in a few months at which time I do begin to have withdrawal symptoms ;-)

      I'm planning to spend a month at the beach when I return from this next trip. Deciding that, has eased my angst about heading north.

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