Thursday, June 16, 2016

Town

I think that one of the reasons I dislike going to town for anything besides lunch, buying groceries or going to the library is that if I have shopping to do, I can never find what I want. This is no doubt a fault of my own but one has hopes, you know?
Futile hopes, as it turned out today.
I have a dress in mind that I could wear every night in Cuba. I found one on the Sundance catalog site which looks perfect, but they only have it in X-Large and someone commented that the dress ran very large in its sizing and so forget that.



I want simple. Black. Sleeveless. I can wear a little something over it if need be. Something cool. It's going to be very hot in Cuba. I sweat. A lot. One would think this would not be impossible to find and yet, I am finding it impossible to find.
Of course, the stores I went to may have been the problem. All the finest shoppes!
Goodwill.
Ross.
The local hippie place.

No luck. No luck at all.

I went to Barnes and Noble to find a travel book on Havana. Again- no luck. They had three Cuban travel guidebooks and although they were lovely and I am sure just chock full of information, I am only going to be in Havana. I suppose I should content myself with internet searches.
Or hell. Maybe I should just go and see what I am lead to see, but one does like to have a little basis for thought, shouldn't one?

One of the reasons I am not feeling as much anxiety about this trip as I could be is that I will HAVE NO CONTROL OVER ANYTHING. I am going to go where I am taken, sleep where I am told to sleep, eat where I am told to eat, shop where I am told to shop, be where I am supposed to be when I am supposed to be there. There will be some choices to make, I'm sure, but didn't I sign a document saying that I'd just do whatever my approved group leader told me to do?
I'm trying not to overthink this. I just want to be a good little traveler (I'd say tourist but the document I signed also made me state that I would NOT be thinking of this trip as a vacation and I would NOT be thinking of myself as a tourist) and do what I am supposed to do and hold Lis's lipstick for when she needs it. And be amazed.

And so it went in town, driving from one place to another. I spent so much time in traffic at red lights that I almost gave myself an entire manicure. I keep an emory board in the car for just that purpose. Why waste time?

So that was my day and I did buy myself a new journal because there will be very little internet access in Havana and so I will be writing down my adventures and impressions by hand in ink on paper. I am more excited about this than I probably should be.

Now it is time to make the supper. I am suspended in a place between there and here at this point but I do need to attend to the needs of the present, both in time and space. Life goes on and laundry needs doing and food needs to be cooked and eaten. I am doing a lot of disassociating and very often I find myself taking a deep, gulping breath as a wave of...excitement? nervousness? anxiety?...washes over me and I can feel my feet and hands go a bit numb. I am moving through a different ocean of feelings and so forth but I need to remember to be mindful of where I am at the moment. It does no good whatsoever to trip off into future trips.
Sweet potatoes are grounding. So are corn muffins with blueberries.

At least I hope they will be.

Love...Ms. Moon




11 comments:

  1. A co-worker of mine just went to Cuba. He said plumbing was an issue, but he had a wonderful time. So maybe take some wet wipes. Also, maybe Old Navy will have what you're looking for. The food you make always sounds so tasty. I wish I could hire you to cook for my family. My kitchen is so tiny I just don't have the patience to cook elaborate food anymore.

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    1. Oops, forgot to sign it! ~Sarah from Columbus

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  2. That dress does look perfect. No, I don't think you'll find it in Goodwill, unless the goddesses are really smiling on you.

    It's very rare that they have what I want when I go shopping. It's so frustrating.

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  3. Maybe you'll find that perfect dress in Havana? It sounds as if you are in a good *place* with your preparations..... I find I am excited myself- just knowing we'll be reading your journal!!
    Susan M

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  4. I am so excited that you get to go to Cuba! I can't wait for you. And I'm so glad you said yes, even when your panic-brain said no.

    And also a little jealous that it will be hot, as I am wearing two pairs of socks and two sweatshirts right now and couldn't get into the garden because my fingers were so cold they wouldn't move. BUT--Cuba!

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  5. http://www.uniqlo.com/us/product/women-s-viscose-sleeveless-jersey-dress-164555.html#09~/women/dresses-and-skirts/dresses/sleeveless/~

    This looks like a good dress. This company has good stuff. So does Zappos. Free shipping, free returns!

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  6. I have no advice on dress shopping. But I agree it sounds wonderful to have NO CONTROL and just allow yourself to be carted around. "I am luggage," my brother says on trips where he has no agenda.

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  7. If you have the time, this is a very recent travel report (ebook) from fellow blogger Jo about her trip to Cuba: http://www.jocarroll.co.uk/vultures.html

    Also, this from my most favourite ever woman traveller Dervla Murphy: https://www.amazon.com/Island-that-Dared-Journeys-Cuba-ebook/dp/B0070D3QY2

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  8. So, I missed something? going to Cuba with your friend Lis as her roadie? groupie? and you had to sign a paper? to accompany her? Cuba should be wonderful. How long is the trip? I'm just full of questions today.

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  9. Sarah- I've been reading about the less-than-pristine bathrooms and will DEFINITELY BE taking toilet paper and wet wipes. Ay-yi-yi!
    I am a decent cook. That is one thing I will admit to.

    Jo- Right? Damn!

    Susan M- It'll be quiet here for the days I'm gone but Lord, the material I'll have when I get back!

    Ramona Quimby- And I'm a little jealous of your cool temperatures. It's like a steam cabinet here. I swear. It's almost unbearable already. I can only imagine that Cuba is going to be worse. I'll be letting you know...

    Allison- Thank you! I'll check it out. I think I may not have enough time to get anything shipped at this point. Argghhhh!!!

    Steve Reed- And that shall be my mantra. Thank you.

    Sabine- Thank you, love! I'll check those out too!

    Ellen Abbott- Everyone going to Cuba (and yes, it would appear I'm going) has to sign such documents. I'll be arriving Havana next Thursday morning and returning on June 27. Monday. I think. I'm so kerfluffled I can't think.

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  10. Oh I'm so happy you said yes. You will follow the Stones to Havana! Garnet Hill has a long, gauzy black dress for 78.00. Whatever you wear I wish you a wonderful adventure. Anon Suz

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.