An Ode to Travel, the Etymology of Goodbye

Pablo Neruda wrote: I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride; so I love you because I know no other way.

This I say to you, Travel.

Before I left Meghan M. gave me a new perspective on the word “Goodbye”. Coming from godbwye, it’s a contraction of ‘God be with ye’. Influenced by good day and good evening, it evolved to become the word we know (and maybe don’t love quite so much). But Meghan's point was goodbye isn’t GOODBYE.

Nevertheless, as I was saying my goodbyes I thought to myself, “OK Jeanne, this time just get it all out of your system.” I don’t love Goodbyes. They are the worst part of Travel. Even worse, I’d say, than getting sick abroad. (I can say this now, having not *yet?* experienced what I’ve heard South American water may do to my sweet little North American tummy.) So no, I didn’t love the goodbyes. But, like most things in life that aren’t fun, I tried to approach these as something I needed to go through to get to the other side. And I tried to remember Meghan’s message – there’s no forever mentioned anywhere in “God be with ye”.

Once I crossed through security at Lambert International (STL), I found my way to the Admiral’s Club to take advantage of my One Day Pass. (Jeff – you get some form of large and very delicious homemade baked good the next 4 times I see you!) Settling into the soft leather chair with my laptop propped on my outstretched legs, listening to the quiet of the A Club, and smelling those nice airporty smells, I couldn’t help but smile to myself. Remember I don’t love the leaving, but I love the traveling – and finally I was there!

The flights STL to Dallas, Dallas to Santiago were mildly turbulent and quite nicely uneventful. The seat next to me was open so I even got to curl up with my feet tucked under a blanket and fake sleep for a while. It’s the little things in life…