When the body remembers
If you miss someone, do you tell them?
Yesterday as I took an escalator up the mall, I saw an older lady heading in the other direction and thought of my ma. How would she have looked like, if she lived to 71? Would we have gone on more trips, where the delight in her eyes at learning or eating something new, would shine so clearly?
Just this thought made my eyes cloud up, and almost missed the tempo in getting off the escalator. 13 years and still quietly grieving the loss of the could haves, the should haves, the places without you. Maybe that is why I travel with a.. vengeance? Maybe that is how I try to dig deep to find that small sliver of bravery, to eat by myself, to think of how you'd enjoy certain moments, how you would survive, because you certainly did.
Remember the trip you took from Tokyo to Shizuoka to find me, and you took the wrong type of shinkansen and ended up very, very far away (Shin-Yokohama station is not in any way near Hamamatsu station) and somehow you found help to find your way back to me? With no Japanese language ability back then, English would still have been a struggle to get help. Remember you writing me an email (bless Gmail for all the archived conversations I had with you, and every time I go back to read, I hear your voice) telling me to say hi to the Queen during my first-ever visit to London?
I remember so much, and I wish you were here to see my everyday joy. To laugh at me being a hot crying mess as I type this out, to say it's okay, it will be okay.
I am okay. I just missed you today.
Learning a new (anything)
In the last year, I’ve been encouraged and thankful to receive messages that say, hey, I see your progress in dance, and you’re looking much more confident dancing now. I certainly hope so. I’ve been posting short dance videos of my studio sessions and am quietly pleased I’ve also been getting faster in picking up the moves of new dances. Let’s be clear, “picking up” is not the same as “being good at” which takes a really long time to get to, which is not just a ‘once a week’ effort.
I’ve also started k-pop aerobics, which 5 years ago I’d have been like, is this person spiralling down some k-pop obsessed stream or what? But then I realised, finding the right motivation (which for me, is music that I enjoy) to bring movement into my slowly ageing body (remember last October’s slightly fractured toe, where that injury took 7 months to get over?), is good enough reason to do something new! This is how we build good habits - by starting with something I enjoy (music, not exercise), and from once a week, I’ve increased it to twice a week (different variety) and also had the pleasure of having friends exercise with me.
Travel packing list
What goes into your travel packing list? I’ve realised I assume all accommodations would have basic amenities but what may be basic in Asia (read: toothpaste, shampoo, body wash), is not the same elsewhere, and in hotels versus AirBnB accommodations, that too. K and I learnt that the hard way this August.
In my travel carry-on bag (besides passport & usuals):
face wash
toothbrush & toothpaste
travel medication
1 spare outfit (in case of missing luggage)
2 laundry sheets
Are you the type who loves to do laundry when travelling? That’s me; say no to keeping a stash of dirty clothes for more than 3 days! If I see a beautiful AirBnB listing (with consistently good reviews) with a washing machine, it’s a big draw. I can see how hilarious my dad finds me, when he sees me gathering laundry on family trips as though it’s the end of the world if we returned with a pile of dirty laundry (hint: it is).
Sharing some amazing listings I’ve had my eye on, all with washing machine access:
Safe travels to all!
Medhā