Some time ago, I invited dear friends to dinner and they, in turn, invited me to Morocco with them. Funny how dramatically the trajectory of one’s life can change in an evening. Ever since, my life has been a frantic flurry of written lists scattered all over the house: things to buy, things to do, things to find out, things to learn, things to pack. For a trip between November 15th and November 28th, there’s a lot to do. To say I am excited would be an understatement. You know that scene in “Love Actually” where Laura Linney’s character hands the house keys to her date and then quietly does a gleeful happy dance behind the door? Well that’s me, all the time.
This will be a trip of many “firsts” for me. First time on the continent of Africa, first time in Morocco, first time in a Muslim country, first time where I am unable to read/speak/understand the language, first time seeing the Sahara Desert, first time experiencing the Atlantic Ocean from the other side, first time seeing the Atlantic Ocean AND the Mediterranean Sea at the same time, first time seeing the night sky from that part of the world, first time away from home for Thanksgiving with my family, first time traveling in the month of November. First time I am going on a bucket list adventure without Charlie. Bittersweet.
The only dark cloud over this out of body experience is the government shutdown, now in its 32nd day. I have heard the horror stories of friends who have traveled in the last week or two. Their flights were delayed for hours or worse, canceled. Fingers crossed it’s over by then.
November 6, 2025. The government will shut down airports to deal with the shortage of air traffic controllers. It will affect domestic flights only. So far, so good.
November 13, 2025. The government shut down has ended.