en route

It seems as if an entire life has been lived, or better yet, the past years of travel seem like they were someone else’s life for I feel rusty as I work my way through O’hare Int‘l Airport. All these people, immaculately put together in outfits of dark hues and tiny, aerodynamic bags that seem to glide effortlessly.

It used to be that the moment I stepped into any airport I was beside myself with excitement. Even though I was surrounded by cranky travelers and crying children, I was in some odd state of bliss for I knew that this airport chaos was the commencement of adventures in foreign lands to come.

Don’t get me wrong, I am elated to return to France, excited to rub my hands in African soil, re-walk ancient pilgrimages through Spain and tour European wine regions and perhaps get my hands dirty in the vineyards of Bordeaux. But, lately, I long for home; one spot where I can see the seasons change and get to know intimately and grow old with. Travel is my life and it will never stop, but I long to turn off the heat, the lights, lock the door to my home and tell it that I will be back soon. I long for community, land, a cellar in which to start my wine collection, walls to hang mementos of art that I admire and memories of countries I adore. I wish for a mate who will sit by my side in front of the fire, listening to the live Opera at the Met, as we read books or do art.

Sometimes, a life on the road has its moments. But, I think this all now, after my year of being in my country, the longest I have spent here. Granted, I was in Colorado, Washington, Illinois, Florida, Arizona, Alaska and California-- it has been a long time.

I will be on the gorgeous streets of Paris in mere hours and wonder if the moment I see a beautiful women adorned in a quality scarf, have a proper espresso, or have my fingers wrapped around affordable Burgundies-- I will forget all these nesting desires and shout through my keyboard, THE ROAD IS LIFE!

I have a new found respect for my country after this year for I was often hard on it and feel with the economic hardship and the election of Obama, we are becoming a new country, a place that I am finding more and more happiness in.

Americans seem to be focusing on what’s important from the environment to conservation to slowing down to minimizing to eating healthy to food quality to family to personal growth and happiness; it is like this young country has entered its maturity (maybe we will start making wines that can do this to!)

I constantly refer to a conversation I had with my friend Dave, who hails from the Isle of Man, travels and now is living in Limousin, that we had had one night walking under a bright French country moon. I was griping on about how what I really wanted was to live in another country and not in the US. He said to me, “that will never happen until you go home and find yourself at peace with home, until you actually like it.” At the time I refused the idea that I could be happy living in the US. But, this year, I became at peace with the my citizenship, my country; I loved it.

I loved Alaska’s rawness, pureness and simplicity. I constantly hopped about with glee as I foraged mussels, seaweeds, mushrooms and wild berries.

In Napa, my love of wine was drenched in experience and education.

I returned home to Chicago to recognize how amazing my friends and family are and how much I miss community, people who know and accept (and maybe even love) my odd character traits.

The grass doesn’t have to be greener on the other side, though the younger Lacey would have to argue with you on that.

I have learned this year, that happiness is where ever you are but I do believe it is necessary to embark on the journey to find it. For even though it is not to be found in a physical location, the journey helps you find it within yourself. It is like crossing the globe in search of a treasure that is buried in your own backyard. It was right there all along, but the really treasure was the growth you gained and the lessons you learned during your search.

The next you here from me, I will have started the next journey and we will see how it unfolds.

The Road is Life.