Two scenes:
Striding through the almost empty, enormous baggage claim area at 7:30pm Sunday local time, a woman in full chador, only her eyes revealed, talking on her cell phone and followed by 3 small children and two of the largest baggage trolleys I have ever seen–bags were stacked five layers high.
Medallions on the passport control desks celebrating the “20th Annual Dubai Shopping Festival.”

When I am traveling for business I find vacationers around me a bit annoying, a bit in the way, a bit clueless. They aren’t working, contributing, serious–not like me.
When I am traveling on vacation, listening to business conversations around me I think “gee, they sound so self-important, absorbed in their oh-so spectacularly irrelevant deals, busy impressing themselves and each other about things that don’t really matter.”
I am such a hypocrite.

As so often the case, right before leaving on a much-anticipated vacation I find myself wondering if I really need to get away, especially NOW.  Now, here at home, which feels so safe and beloved.  Why am I trading it for there, away, which feels so unknown?  Why am I leaving my bed, my desk, my doggies, my new kitchen?

BECAUSE!  Yup.  I’m outta here.