I get these crazy ideas…

“Right now I just want to build a life for myself in Seattle.”
“I’ve done the Europe thing, I think it’s time for me to explore other parts of the world.”
“I think I want to focus on visiting places in this country.”

These are all statements I’ve made in the last year, and they were all true at one point. But the continent that was my home for under six months has been calling to me again, this time the sun-soaked shores of the Mediterranean.

I got an email from my friend Cassandra the other day with merely the word “Europe” in the subject line. It read, “Emilioso... I have been contemplating a trip to Spain, I think we should go and teach English … would be an adventure!” It was like she put ants in my shoes and now I’ve got itchy feet again.

Suddenly the idea of working two jobs doesn’t seem so bad …

In March 2007 I spent about 24 hours in Barcelona, and I’ve been wanting to go back ever since. I want to check out the Sagrada Familia, take a side trip to Valencia and relax on one of the country’s lush green hillsides with a bottle of red wine. When Cassandra and I first met, we figured out we had this shared interest in Barcelona and threw around some ideas for a possible visit.

Today I decided my ideal itinerary would be something like this:
Four to six weeks in Europe, escaping the gloomiest time of year in Seattle (some point between New Year’s and spring). Spend a decent chunk of time in Barcelona and/or the rest of Spain (Pamplona, Seville, etc.).

Then take a train up to Marseille and backpack through Provence and the Cote d’Azure, for a chance to use my French and see Van Gogh’s sunflowers. Then down to Naples (or Napoli, which I think is more fun to say) for the incredible, food, scenery and potential love affairs. Then I could take a ferry back across to Barcelona.

Now this is an idea I can get excited about. Suddenly the idea of working two jobs doesn’t seem so bad … not if a Mediterranean Odyssey is the payoff.

I’m not saying this will happen for sure. But I’ve learned that with all the dreams I’ve had, it’s important to pay attention to the ones that make your heart beat a little faster.

For additional reading, check out my blog post from my first trip to the Mediterranean.

In good times and bad

Yesterday, while working a very slow lunch shift, I caught myself thinking that things have to get better soon. Well, the truth is they may not get better and they could get even worse. I’m referring of course to the economy and its impact on my income.

Times are tough, and not just for me. Everyone I know is feeling financially strained in some way. But I paid enough attention in history class to know that this is just a recession, and a full-on depression would be ... I don’t even know. I try to imagine what it would be like if I couldn’t find any job and ended up homeless and standing in a bread line. It’s a long way from my current situation, but I think it's foolish to think this is as bad as it can get.

But it seems to me that, even given the bleakest scenario, I would survive somehow. That’s what people did during the Great Depression, right? They got by, they survived.

Having dinner with my aunt last night, it was clear early on that neither of us had any exciting news regarding our professions, travel plans or future goals. But I thought to myself, that’s not a good enough reason to be depressed. In spite of all my worries, doubts and limitations, I just think there are other things in life to celebrate, enjoy and discuss.

Laura and I ended up talking about family history and our shared love of coffee. Best of all, she passed along to me a necklace that had belonged to my grandmother and a brooch that had been my great-grandmother’s.

I’m not trying to be pessimistic by saying things could get worse. I’m just trying to be realistic. And I think that cautious optimism should be part of a realistic approach.

In the meantime, I think I need a second job.

So, what are you reading?

My new friend Tina uses this question to strike up conversations. So I was a little nervous when she sent it my way because a) I’m not reading anything at the moment and b) the last book I read was a silly bit of chick lit by British author Sophie Kinsella. But as I was explaining the book to her, I realized it’s not quite so silly.

The book is about a “high powered” corporate lawyer in London who, after making a mistake that effectively destroys her legal career, runs to the country and takes a job as a housekeeper. Free from her old workaholic lifestyle, she learns to relax, bake bread, make friends and fall in love.

It was crazy reading this book, because I basically went through the same transformation in 2007. I left journalism temporarily to go to France, and when I came back I couldn’t bring myself to go back to that stressful lifestyle. I started waiting tables and I learned to relax, make friends, date, etc. I did not learn how to bake bread, though.

Every now and then I feel pressure (from myself, mostly) to take up some professional path. I don’t know why. I genuinely enjoy waiting tables; it’s a good way to make a living.

It’s really scary to be 18, 19 and 20 and making decisions that you think will affect the rest of your life. What school am I going to, what am I going to study, how am I going to support myself after? I see my younger brother Sam going through the same things in the near future.

If someone had told me I’d go to college, earn a degree and then go back to waiting tables I would’ve laughed at them. But it turned out to be a viable alternative to my own workaholic lifestyle. And I can honestly say I’m happier because of it.

Trouble in blog paradise

I haven’t been holding up my end of the blogging bargain.

I received an email this morning from a regular reader who was angry there’d been no update. (Since the “anger” came from my older brother Eli I know it was mostly a joke.) But when I started this blog I made a commitment to update it at least twice a week, a goal at which I’ve failed miserably.

Lately I seem to be struggling with what to write about. I have plenty of ideas … that all have me and the great city of Seattle front-and-center. I guess I’m curious what you all want to read. I can’t promise I’ll always be able to deliver, but at least that might help point me in the right direction.