The Hills Are Alive...

Let us rewind to about 2o years ago. I think it was Thanksgiving. The end of Sound of Music was on the Screen of our Small TV in our Adorable house at 504 N. Pine in Norfolk, Nebraska. I was captivated. My first Musical. I begged Mom to rent me the movie-VHS, of course. I watched, watched again, and watched some more...captivated, awestruck, and envious.

Somehow, I ended up owning this Treasure within weeks. Maybe it was taped off of TV? Perhaps it was purchased by my loving, patient mother?I cannot recall. Regardless, I began the "oh so pleasant for the other family members" ritual of watching at LEAST once or twice a week for what seems like several years. I acted out the scenes. I played "house" where I was Maria. I desperately wanted to put on a puppet show. I eventually recruited my much younger siblings, who, to the chagrin of my parents, would march around the house, carrying a suitcase and guitar (aka Couch Cushions) singing "I hab Comp-ee-nince" in all their toddler glory.

My first Compact Disc was The Sound of Music Soundtrack. I had the sheet music for my violin. I sang along...boy howdee, did I. I could (and still can) recite, not just the songs, but the dialogue as well...word for word, line for line. To say I know this movie by heart is an understatement. It IS in my heart. My heart wanted to sign with Maria in those lovely Austrian hills.

Me & My precocious Self made a pact. One day, I (we?) would go to Salzburg...And Vienna...And the sought after Switzerland. Those that know me KNOW that I have a bit of a stubborn streak. When I set my mind to something...watch out. I WOULD go to Europe. It was just a matter of when...



Side note: In talking to the Squirrelly Girlfriend, she said "Sound Of Music? Isn't that the movie with the Vander Trampps?"...Love her. Looks like someone will need to actually watch the movie. And learn the words. Maybe dress up like one of the characters. Time will tell. Whatever it takes to get her to not confuse classic historical characters with french mnemonic devices.

Symphony 1 "The Journey" in OMG major by C. Marie Main

I am gay. I am traveling. I am keeping a "Log." But, this is not a "gay travelogue."

I am young. I am exploring. I will Eat, I will Pray, and I will...well, probably not love (unless you count falling in love with food, sights, music, wine, etc). But this Journey was not inspired by book nor movie. Unless, of course, you count my Ten Year Old Self's obsession with The Sound Of Music or the History of Classical Music....but more about that later on.

This journey has been a labor of love, and absolute resolution of "I WILL" and frankly, way too long in coming. To be honest, though, I am glad I am doing this trip now. Not only am I in a more stable place financially, emotionally and...well...I am not quite the Fu*k up I was in my early 20's, I know more about The World in general. I have studied delicate political and economic climates. I have made International friends. I have devoured foreign foods, wines, music, and literature. That said, I know only what any American knows that has never been abroad.

Europe is Different. Europe is Huge. Europe is Old. Europe is Beautiful.

Europe is Music, Art, Dance, History, Ruins and many things I have read about, dreamed of, and longed to Experience first hand. So here we are....here we go. In the month leading up to my trip, I will jot down the Hows, Whys and Whats that went into this trip.

In around one month, I will be sitting in a cafe in Munich, reflecting on my First European Opera, Puccini's Tosca. I have seen it before...but never in Munich with German Subtitles. The Music and story will be VERY familiar. The Italian will be somewhat familiar. The German? Let's just say my German is No Gut. I will be preparing for a day of sight seeing before hastily changing into an LBD (Little Black Dress) and jetting back to the Staatsoper for a take on Swan Lake. After letting the wistful strains of Tchaikovsky carry me away for a mere two hours, I will be in a furried frenzy to dash to the Bahnhof and catch the overnight train to Vienna.

Until then, I can only Fret, Plan, Dream, Plan, Worry, Plan...fantasize, plan *sigh*...and plan some more, with a dash of dreaming and a sprinkle of worry. I wonder what the Old World will hold for me...

So..presented from here on out is the "How" I got to "Here." (Here being this state of anxiety as I watch the calendar days fly by until I will be, well, flying...) I am a ball of nervous excitement, about to "jet set" for the first time...and I think I am absolutely Crazy.