This is the fictional band name my mom used to describe the musical acts she doesn’t like on the Colbert show. (HA!) We were on the phone yesterday and again today about my summer plans and particularly how they might overlap with hers… as we’ve attempted for many years to no avail.
We’ve made some small trips together—to Sedona, and many times her visiting me in San Francisco or me her in NYC—but over the last few years, particularly as I have summers off now, we’ve tried to formulate a plan to go abroad together. Neither of us have been to “The Continent” (though she’s been to the British Isles twice).
About 2 years ago, we tried to make a plan to go on this trip throughout Italy, but my job wasn’t pleased about my taking days off near the beginning of the school year, so we had to drop it. Then last summer, I was switching schools and didn’t have the travel funds. Which brings us to this year: Now that I’ve confirmed my summer job/professional development, I have some “extra” funds — and Molly Wanna Vacation.
When we spoke yesterday, she was very hesitant about confirming anything. Which felt very typical. I began to feel a little despairing of ever getting to go on a “real” vacation with her. She’s turning 70 this year, I just had 5 years cancer-free—it felt like a momentous year for us to do something fabulous.
But, I’m learning, not everybody has the money to do something fabulous. Or at least, a) what I consider fabulous, and b) when I want to do it.
It feels a little snobby to realize that things I want to do in life are out of reach for some people I love (especially when for so long I was the decliner); but it also feels like a wake-up call, or at least a vibrating phone alarm. It’s not snobby to want nice things (fabulous things), and my feelings aren’t borne out of judgment (believe me, I’ve pushed into my feelings to root out that truth) — my feelings are just simple acknowledgement of the reality of my current situation and of others’. And sometimes, those do not align.
Sometimes those with whom I’d love to adventure with aren’t available. Sometimes that’s due to limitations of time, sometimes money, sometimes interest. And so I’m left with the open question of “Who’s Next?”
Who are the people I’ll need to meet who can join me in adventures that are feasible AND of interest to us both? (As clearly not every person will want to accompany me to SF Opera’s CarTUNE afternoon where they’ll screen old Looney Tunes that have an opera reference. “Kill the Wabbit” anyone?!)
My mom and I spoke again this morning after she had some time to process, and it’s starting to seem that a “real” vacation to Europe is possible for her, for which I’m exceedingly grateful (it’s the rare 70-year old who will readily come up with “Suicide Bird”!).
But there will be times when I can’t have my cake and eat it, too — sometime soon, I may have to take my cake to go.
Owning Voice 