Tuesday, September 9, 2014

On Leaving One's Comfort Zone.

And going to Baltimore.

Not that Baltimore is outside my comfort zone, I have a crush on that city.

But in order for me to go there I had to climb every mountain, ford every stream, follow every rainbow.....well you get it.

I had to take a lot of public transportation.  At rush hour.

And if any one remembers, it was just last year I got over my fear of the metro, flying, and other methods of transportation that were not in my control.

In other words, everything but walking, riding in cars with friends or taking my little local bus.

But luckily I had spent the past year forcing myself past these self induced fears.

And with every trip I took, came the courage to take another.

So if the only way I could see my ex, Tony, with his partner and their two children. Nora, two days short of her third birthday, and the new 8 month old Sam, who had  all flown in from Oregon for a week of friends and family time in Pennsylvania was to meet halfway in Charm City, the mountain would move.

It took a bus to the metro, 2 different subway trains at rush hour,( a totally new adrenalin rush for me) and then the comfort of Amtrak to get me there. A cab ride to the Inner Harbor and there they were.

And it was worth every flicker of uncertainty. 



When I told one of my workmates where I had gone yesterday, she listened with her mouth open.

This is not the Jane I know, she said.

But it's the Jane I used to know, years ago, when every day was a possible adventure, when life was experienced first hand, not just through a book or a movie.  When the whole world was my garden.

So I'm bringing her back.

She's more fun.

xo J




37 comments:

  1. Waaaay proud of you! what cute little ones they are and well worth the trip. One can never have too many nieces and nephews.

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    1. Thank you, you constant cheerleader you. Maybe sometime I'll take the train south.

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    2. We would love that! It's an easy trip. Will wave as we pass thru headed north on tuesday.

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  2. Adventures are what it's all about, and one to the Inner Harbor in Baltimore---worth every step of the way! (From the mouth (typing fingers) of a true Oriole fan who has made the trek several times, in a car though but I get it)

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    1. We should meet in Baltimore sometime! I know how to get there now🚁🚊🚘

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    2. I may surprise you! Haven't been to DC in a while either, need a little jaunt there I think, and while there we usually visit Hugo in Arlington. Do you know Hugo, everybody knows Hugo-

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  3. GOOD FOR YOU, GIRL!! Where will you go next.....

    Do you realize how many things you have survived, gotten through, habits kicked and fears overcome? small, charming and mighty, I'd say. :)

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    1. Same to you I'd wager:-) Nice to be able to say yes and follow through, rather than no and feel safe, but small.

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  4. Awesome, Jane! I have had much of my life curtailed by fears, and it feels so good when I get past them. Such burdens.

    I lived in Annapolis when I was a young teen, and we used to take the bus to Baltimore. What a journey you had--and I'm glad it was worth it. The picture of the aquarium that you put on Instagram was beautiful. And Nora and Sam are precious.

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    1. Exactly, curtailed by fears, perfect way of putting it. I used to travel but the destination was always my goal. It's nice to learn to enjoy the journey.

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  5. Hey Jane! I finally found your blog after some research on Google! I'm so excited you got to go to Baltimore. I told you the metro wasn't THAT bad! :p

    I'm so excited to be able to follow all your adventures now!
    Lots of love,
    Sophie aka Elle.

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    1. Snowfie, here you are. You were my inspiration as I rode both the over crowded bus and then raced thru the morning metro station, onto uber packed trains. Sophie did this every morning, I told myself, and she survived.

      And I hope you're impressed I was able to get these pictures off my IPad and onto the blog. See all I learned?

      I hope you're researching jobs in The US, we all miss you and wish you would come back to your second home soon.

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    2. Maybe the next step is to take a transatlantic flight? :)

      And I'm super impressed, I told you it was easy!

      I am looking into jobs everywhere, it's not easy to find job ads that interest me, but I so want to come back. I miss you!

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  6. I must admit, when you expressed your train and plane anxieties I was surprised. This traveling You seems as natural as the walking, bus taking You. And it's such good blog fodder! xoxo

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    1. I have always loved to be somewhere new, I was just anxious about getting there. But when you're living without a car and driver for the first time in a 100 years, you've got to take a deep breath, book a ticket and get the hell outta dodge.

      And the more I do it, the more natural it is.

      And you're correct, anything for a good story. :-))

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  7. awww, perhaps that is what i need to do. get reaquainted with the old janet. thanks for the inspiration jane. x

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    1. I think the new Janet is pretty swell, but our younger selves have to be of some use...

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  8. Goodonya J!

    Facing ones fears is always a hurdle, but one that can be jumped-as you have found.

    Hubby and I share a car, and both my kids an I take public transport more often than not ( parking in San Diego is crazy-making). Lots of fun when it's rush hour!

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    1. Oh God, I can't imagine. A friend just came back from Buenos Aires and she's still shaking about their subway during rush hour. And she's one of the bravest women i know. Forget Argentina!

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  9. The first step is always the hardest. The second comes easier. Yay for you for getting out of your comfort zone. I try to do that as much as possible.

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    1. True. I used to think it meant taking a different street to walk to work. Ha!

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  10. I'm glad you overcame your fear. Sometimes the best way to get through it is to thrust yourself into the fire. I hope you enjoyed our city :-)

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    1. It is, but it seemed to take a while to get my thrust up. I loved your city. What a week you're going to have! Enjoy.

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  11. So happy to hear that you are having adventures! And that you got to spend time with cute little ones, and they with you.

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    1. It's all about adventures, big and small, and community of course.

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  12. May you continue to enjoy the joy of the journey!!πŸŒΏπŸ’• janiecam9 akaJane

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  13. That's the way to do it. I had to force myself back on the Tube. I was making every excuse under the sun not to use it.

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    1. Someone told me the tube was really deep in the ground. Haven't even been to England and already anxious:-)

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    1. She's the Queen Fish according to her, I don't doubt it for a second.

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  15. Phew, that was impressive! And now that you know you can do it, you have to do it some more - lots more! Well done you.

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