…where the being away from home starts to get to you. Sure, you normally call it being homesick. Usually it is when you get tired of everything being different. You just really would like to have something familiar to get your bearings and keep a connection back home. For me, this is how my Hard Rock thing came about. When traveling abroad, it was always an oasis of Americana that I could count on for a brief reconnection with home - in the form of food, of course. Sure it is not the greatest food, but after a week or so of strange dishes, even their hamburgers look pretty darn good! And a chocolate malt? I am jonesing for one right now!!
On this trip, this feeling came early, but it was not because I was missing the familiarity and comfort of home. Nor was it the distinct lack of a Hard Rock in Budapest! This time it was because I was in a very romantic city full of charm and history that gave it an ambience that seemingly was designed specifically just for lovers. And you see them everywhere. Holding hands. Kissing. Hugging. And who can blame them. Amazing scenic views, old world charm, horse carriage rides over cobblestone streets, beautiful sunsets, sidewalk cafes, cool summer evenings. This place just oozes romance. I would venture to say that this city is even more romantic than Paris. Don’t believe me? I challenge you to visit both and then tell me what you think!
Unfortunately for me this romanticism is a constant reminder of what I am missing back home, just how much Vicki would love this place, and how great this experience would be if she were here to share it with. Every beautiful old building I see I think how much Vicki would love it. The sidewalk cafes I can only think how we could spend hours there just talking - and looking into each other’s eyes, of course. Looking out over the Danube and the amazing view of Budapest I think of how much better it would be with her there in my arms to share the view. Yep. I hit the “I miss you so much, honey” portion of the trip far earlier than expected. And it is not stopping any time soon apparently! Even as I write this I am sitting in a very old stone courtyard restaurant with red cloth covered tables, mood lighting and live gipsy music playing. And if that weren’t enough the song playing on the radio before the musicians came out was “You’re My Best Friend” by Queen. Thanks! As if I wasn’t already missing my best friend enough!! Then the first song the musicians played was “Hooray for Hollywood” - not romantic but got me thinking of home for sure. That was followed by “My Way”. Since Vicki is a huge Sinatra fan this would have been one of those moments in life that would have taken her breath away. It was perfect – well, it would have been perfect if she had been here with me.
I am figuring about now there are those ready to give me grief about ‘whining’. Now don’t get me wrong. This is not me complaining. I do realize how lucky I am to be traveling the world, seeing the sights, experiencing different cultures and working with people from all over. I fully appreciate and love this part of my job greatly. But there are times when the personal costs of this life get to be a bit overwhelming. Like when I come face to face with how empty my world is – even in the midst of so much beauty, culture and history – when Vicki is not in it. So forgive me for droning on a bit in this post, but this is part of the deal in this life of travel. Tonight I am not home sick. I am heart sick.
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