Where am I?

Open your eyes. It's dark, black. The shapes and images are unfamiliar, almost threatening. You're confused, lost. It's so dark. You listen for familiar sounds. Nothing makes sense. You think -- where am I?



But more importantly -- where the heck is the bathroom?

When Dad was sick I went up to visit for a weekend, and returned home weeks later after the funeral. I went back and forth almost every other weekend for a few days here and there. I stayed in my old room, in my old twin bed. Dad had made the base -- it was awesome. You had to jump up to get in bed, underneath were 2 big drawers for all of my secret treasures (OK maybe not so secret but it was cool). He made the bed in the basement. It was so large it wouldn't go up the staircase and make the turn so I remember having to hoist it up through the window! I don't remember asking for that bed, but man it was cool. I probably never told him just how much I liked it -- and it was the sadest thing to have to leave behind -- but it was much too large to move and take.

After that I used to wake up, in MY OWN HOME, and not know where I was. Mentor had become once again more familiar, more home than my own home! And just when I'd get adjusted, I'd be back up for several days.

In the last month I've traveled about as much as I've ever traveled. For 12 days I was only in the same place 2 nights in a row once. And most of those nights were spent sleeping with 500 other people. It was quite hot when I got home, and my place isn't air conditioned, so I wasn't wearing much at all at night. I would wake up in a panic thinking I was in the middle of the gym floor! And man that went on for nights!

So then I take off for Europe spending 2 nights at a time in a hotel. Each room configured differently than the others, differently than home. Home for 3 days and off to Indiana to SAG for my friends. Another hotel room.

So what have I learned from my travels? Always know where the bathroom is and if possible leave a light on so you can find it in the dark!