The Empty Suitcase Blues

Be it a plane, train, or automobile - get me out of here! I'm ready to pack my little black dress and hit the road. Don't get me wrong, I love my hometown but lately I have the blues. Maybe it is the change in the seasons (I detest even a hint of a chill in the air) or not knowing when or where my next trip will be. Also, I just read another depressing article that basically said I have a better chance of being adopted by Brad and Angelina than ever getting married (I'm not even sure I want to get married, but geez, don't count me out.)

I read travel books and magazines the way some ladies immerse themselves in bridal magazines. Instead of picturing myself in that perfect white dress, I see myself strolling down sandy beaches and dining in exotic locales, and flirting (just a little bit) with handsome locals. Kind of my own honeymoon, minus the groom.

Yours truly in Dublin (2002) and completely blissed out on vacation endorphins!

I don't know if there is any scientific evidence to support this claim, but I am 100% convinced that the better the vacation, the more endorphins your body releases. The best vacations give you such a high, such boundless bliss, that the feeling lingers when you return home. Until, it doesn't. One day you are still on cloud nine from your perfect vacation and then suddenly you have to restrain yourself from saying not-such-ladylike things to the rude person who basically tackled you to get to an empty seat on the subway. Reality checks can be so cruel.

Yes, I live in Manhattan amidst fine dining and world-class arts & entertainment. And, most importantly, many of the people that I love and treasure most in the world share this crazy island with me. But that's the thing about the blues - they don't have to make sense but they are real. I know there are more trips on my horizon and, even if I never travel again, I know I am blessed to have had the opportunity to experience some truly amazing places. But sometimes a girl just has to acknowledge when she is feeling down. I bet you, at this very moment, there is a lady in Paris, Barcelona, or London, who feels exactly the same way. I look forward to meeting her on my next trip.