We were invited to take a road trip the other day down the Columbia Gorge. We stopped for shopping in Hood River then drove on up to Mt. Hood Lodge for dinner. It was a beautiful early spring day...sun, rain and then snow. Perfect for Oregon.
As we began the drive my son-in-law put Willie Nelson on for music. The album was To All the Girls. It includes duets with prominent women vocalist including Dollie Parton, Loretta Lynn and several others. When Sheryl Crow began her duet with Nelson singing "Far Away Places" I was carried back to a time when I stood in my backyard in our small home in rural Eastern Oregon and watched the planes fly high over head. I remember the yearning to fly away to Spain or Siam even though I had no idea what direction I would need to fly.
My parents always played music and of course that wonderful Bing Crosby hit came out the year I was born. Far Away Places may have lulled me to sleep at night. The lyrics just say it all. I am still strangely sad when I hear the whistle of the train or see the contrail of a jet going far way...I want to shout Don't leave, I want to go too.
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| Visiting the Grand Mosque in Abu Dubai, UAE |
Far away over the sea
Those far away places with the strange sounding names are
Calling Calling me
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| San Miguel, Jalisco, MX |
I wanna see for myself
Those far away places I've been reading about in a
Book that I took from a shelf
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| Resort on the Dead Sea, Jordan |
I start getting' restless whenever
I hear the whistle of a train
I pray for the day I can get underway
And look for those castles in Spain
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| Me last December in Petra, Jordan |
They call me a dreamer
Well maybe I am
But I know that I'm burning to see those
Far away places with the strange sounding names
Calling, calling me.
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| The Burj Kalifa (tallest building in the world) Dubai UAE Having dinner at the water's edge! |
Have a wonderful day.
b+
Very insightful post about the allure of faraway places; I was pleased to see you were in Jordan at the Dead Sea and in Petra, as I was many years ago.
ReplyDeleteThe Jordan we found when we went this time was on high alert and the soldier/citizens were very glad to see American travelers...especially with children. They need reassurance I think.
DeleteI love travel too and will do so as long as I can. I am glad to come home after a trip, but immediately start thinking about, researching and planning my next trip.
ReplyDeleteWe are accidental travelers it seems. The last trip was a sidetrip from a visit to Dubai to see our son and his family. He surprised us with the news that we would be going to Jordan. I did not bring warm clothes so I just wore everything I owned for 4 days. I did look like a clown but honestly I just didn't care. :)
DeleteThinking about Petra in a year.
ReplyDeleteMy Dad said he raised me to stay home. I am the only one of my family who has ever lived (except college) outside of my home state. Like you, visiting new places is part of my internal music.
I was very lucky in that my mother and father were open to adventure. That was how I was raised. I am very grateful for that.
DeleteMy travel days are behind me, and I do still visit my family in the States, but I have zero interest in international travel these days. It does sound like an adventure, and you told your story well. :-)
ReplyDeleteI wonder if that will happen to me some day. I hope not.
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