Let the Journey Begin...

Precarious:

Adjective

1. Dependent on circumstances beyond one's control; uncertain; unstable; insecure.

2. Exposed to or involving danger; dangerous; perilous; risky.

3. Having insufficient, little, or no foundation.

4. My mom's favorite word and her general outlook on life and the world at large. It's precarious.

I heard that word a lot growing up - don't go there, it's too precarious; your lifestyle is precarious; get away from the cliff, it's precarious. And so on and so on... ​ This was difficult for me since the desire to see the world took hold of me really young. I blame my grandma (my mom's mom) for that! She would take me out of middle school and high school for a few weeks at a time and bring me around the country. She said it was just as educational as going to school.

I had a lot of "firsts" with my grandma: first time smuggling liquor over an international border (I was only 12 so she assured me they weren't going to check my bag); first time sneaking into a hotel; first time talking to truckers using a CB radio; first time hearing really bad words; and, most importantly, first time reading a map and being responsible for navigating (thank you for that last one, grandma). My mom however has, or soft had, a different view of the world. It is SCARY. The potential for danger is everywhere. While her mother (my grandma) doesn't mind walking the edge a bit if it means she will get a better view - my mother gave the edge a wide berth.

When I was 19, I bought a two month ticket to Thailand. My mom immediately stopped talking to me. Mind you, I had been telling her about how I was going to spend the summer backpacking through Southeast Asia. But, I guess she didn't believe me. This was the beginning of my navigation through rough waters with my mom over my "precarious" lifestyle. But something changed in me when I went to Thailand, something that was irreversible. I'll never forget the feeling I had when flying into Bangkok, it was like I hadn't yet experienced the world until that moment, and in that moment, all its possibilities all came into view. That was the moment things changed. That was the moment I fell in love for the first time. Backpacking has shown me that there is a freedom and beauty in being immersed in the unknown, straddling the edge of something that could be dangerous or amazing. It gives me a profound appreciation for the world and the beauty of being alive. My mother and I were at odds on this mentality. She was constantly worried that I wasn't going to make it back alive. But, having experienced the thrill and freedom of "no reservations" backpacking, and knowing how much fun she would have if she could just "let it go." I knew that physically, my mom could take it. So, I kept trying - year after year - to get her to come with me. ​ Eventually, I won. If you can't beat them, join them! We've been traveling together for a while now and it is always hilarious to watch her adjust and come out of her "bubble" and I think others might find it amusing as well. I'm using this website as an opportunity to record my time with my mother - the moments, pictures, and the conversations we have while traveling. There's a continuous theme that I've recognized when I travel with my mom - the more time we spend together on the raggedy edge the more we both embrace the precariousness of life. And that is a good thing.

If time permits, I will add some moments from previous trips as well - the good and the bad (sometimes very bad). You'll also meet a number of other travel companions that I've had along the way (some ventured out with me and some I picked up along the way). I hope that my experiences might inspire others to get out there and see the world. Yes, even with your mother! With that said, let the journey begin!