I have just over two weeks before I am scheduled to head back to the Balkans, Greece, and the European Third World. I have been watching the financial crisis in Greece with some trepidation, not really sure what I should expect, but happy the Euro is slipping slowly against the dollar. I am hoping to do a “test pack” tomorrow. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t need to, but this time I am packing some different things in my big backpack. I am taking warmer clothing, which can be bulkier. I am also taking some professional grade photo print paper and my small portfolio. Both of these items are rigid 8.5″ x 11″ x 1″ boxes and will have to be packed with clothing around them. Also, my small camera bag will be in the big pack, but to utilize space I will pack it with my other art supplies like the vine charcoal, pencils, erasers and so forth that I will need for my Beginner’s Drawing course. That way these items will be protected and the bag will not be just along for the ride.
My carry-on bag is my large Domke camera bag and that will hold two digital cameras (Canon 50D, Canon G11) and my film camera (Voigtlander R4M Bessa). It will also have two lenses for the 50D, a 35mm and a 50mm. In one of the side pouches all the assorted cables I will need as well as the plug adaptors. SD cards, Flash cards, an external hard drive for files, lens cleaning supplies, passports, tickets, reservation vouchers, notebook, pens…the usual travel goods.
My great friend Jeanne Joy has sent me more contact info for AA folks on Paros as well as the number for her dentist when he lived there. I will have a good list of numbers before I leave. I am very excited to be going and to have this fantastic experience in not only travel, but interaction with other students. I am eager to begin.
In regards to beginnings and endings, I have ended my brief intimate relationship with a lovely woman. She is taking it pretty hard, but I have to be pragmatic about life these days. I have many priorities in my life that trump our being with each other. I also found that at two years sober, her emotional needs were vastly different than my own. In some ways, her sobriety is very much about the destination and mine is more the journey. She had expectations that did not match my hopes. Even though I feel that my decision was right, the breakup left me with a heavy heart. I suppose it is a type of grief. We will both live. In the old days I would have tried to make it work and the pain would have been even worse after two years of disaster. I feel that we gave our two months a decent try however. What can I say…It just wasn’t working for me.
Johnnyboy
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