Between cities
I'm writing this entry on a train ride from Paris to Cannes. Angela and I are attending this year's International Advertising Festival for work. Well, she's here for work. I'm here because I couldn't pass up a trip to Cannes (and my birthday is this week).
Right now I'm thinking it's a shame trains aren't used as much in the U.S. as they are in Europe and Japan. There's so much to like about ground travel: the generous amount of space, being able to visually absorb the quiet spaces between thriving cities, the hum of wheels turning on tracks. No flight attendants.
About an hour into our journey we made our way to the cafe to get some snacks and ended up sitting next to a young man whose popped collar, teeny leather purse and smug expression lent the impression that he'd rather be left alone. Of course, he exploded into a million stories about his experiences as a lone traveler 5 minutes later, pulling out his beat to shit passport to show us his country stamps and everything. Angela seemed less than amused, but I enjoy meeting people who are as excited as I am to see for the sake of seeing.
At some point, after tales of Tunisia and Thailand, we got into the basics. Ramsey, 24, was born in Cannes, but moved to London (where he sometimes works as a chef) because he was tired of running into the same people over and over again. When I told him my name his face lit up like a Christmas light and he said, "I live in Chelsea!"
Meeting people who aren't bound by much of anything always tugs at my insides. As much as I love and depend on the support and familiarity that comes with home life, I think a small part of me will always need to know that, if I want, I can shed what I know and just run. That I can come and go and find and be anywhere.
The sun is starting to set now. White cows are zooming by. Clair de Lune is in my headphones. There is a man on this train that won't ever forget my name. Soon I'll be eating sunlight and celebrating life with one of my most favorite people in the world.
In this little moment, I have no complaints. Can't beat that.