MAD-DOH-IST-MLA

Nature’s Confetti ~ Go Canada!

Surprise! Pack your bag and get yourself to the virtual jet. We’re off to the World Cup and more!

It has been months… 11 long months… since I last posted. In the time that has passed, three people in my immediate family have had major surgery (myself included). I’ve chosen to disengage, step away from social media and truly give my body and mind a good long time to heal. On the eight-month journey between my diagnosis and recovery, I was referred to a renowned local surgeon, about the same age as I am. He immigrated from Myanmar when he was nine years old. Having traveled to Myanmar in 2013, he and I had a great conversation about the country, his experience coming to the U.S. with his mother and seven siblings, and his belief that he’s living the American dream — now as a U.S. citizen. I am forever grateful for his skill and expertise, his assurance that I would be okay, and the acute reminder that one’s life may be touched at any time, by anyone, from anywhere.

So… I’m healed, happy and feel like a million bucks! And travel has come back into focus. We (J and I) have moved from Lake Tahoe and spent the past three weeks on parental visits in California and Colorado. The next phase toward the World Cup starts tomorrow. This particular trip has been in the works since April — with ticket lotteries, Hayya cards and accommodations all needing to align in order to make it possible. You can’t even board a plane to Qatar this month unless you have all of these things officially documented and approved. I am highly aware of how controversial this World Cup is but that is a topic for another time, with more perspective gained from being there. As a HUGE sports fan (did you know?), what I’m most looking forward to is meeting people from around the world, feeling that electric harmony of rooting with and against each other, and seeing all the jerseys and face paint, while also seeking out some unique Qatari experiences. J was just asking the hotel concierge… can we get to Al Bayt stadium by dhow for the Germany/Costa Rica match? They haven’t said no!

It’s 2:05 a.m. and I should be sleeping but percolating thoughts of exotic places have inspired me to sit and write. So, tomorrow we go. First to Madrid for a few days with family, then on to Doha from Sunday to Sunday, five matches in between. After that, three nights in Istanbul and shopping at the Grand Bazaar, then four nights and a meet-up in Malta with Lexie from One Foot Out the Door! (We are soooo excited!) After that, back to Madrid for a week, then back to the U.S. in time for Christmas.

I hope you’ll come along! Follow me here — I’ll try to post every day — and on Insta (compassandcamera) for full photo immersion.

I’ve missed you all, I have so much blog reading to catch up on, and I hope all of you are well and dreaming of journeys… whether they’re just to the end of the street or all the way around the world.

Happy Thanksgiving,
Kelly