Erika E

I’ve always loved traveling. Over the years I was gifted with the opportunity to explore the world. An opportunity to experience other languages & cultures. So much so that to this day I tell folks, “traveling is in my blood.” Give me a train, a plane, an automobile, or a combo of the above, it honestly doesn’t matter. I’m game, just give me a few to get packed & I’ll be ready to go. 

Growing up

I can still vividly remember family trips to the Cape when I was small. It doesn’t hurt that I have plenty of pictures & have heard the stories a million times or more. When I was really small, my dad would bring mama & me on road-trips to New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, & even Canada. We didn’t only drive though, we flew as well & not just in the US. They took me on adventures. 

After I turned 5 or 6 the international family trips shifted to just my dad & me. It was a lot easier to take short, local trips after my brother was born. I was encouraged to be independent from an extremely early age & traveling was no exception. I was well versed with air travel & took my first solo domestic flight at only five years old. Three years later, I completed my first international solo flight. Yes, I had a flight attendant with me on my solo trips, but I chatted with them more than I asked for directions or help.

Looking out the window

I absolutely adore flying. Watching the other planes on the runways & aprons. I can’t forget counting the vehicles on the roads until I couldn’t see them anymore or looking for baseball fields & schools. Who am I kidding, I still count them today. Of course, now I’ve added facility identification from residential neighborhoods to train classification yards to water treatment plants & I still hunt for baseball fields. What can I say? I guess you could say, I was destined to be an imagery analyst. For me, it’s relaxing & I enjoy it.

Required travel

In 2015 I started a job that included “25% travel” in the job description. I was excited to start traveling again for work, especially when I realized that the last time I went on a “work” trip was my deployment in 2010. I still remember being nervous that I forgot to pack something I would need on that first trip, even though I knew I could easily buy anything I forgot when I got there. My destination was California after all, not Iraq.

Surprisingly enough, I didn’t forget anything on that trip. Have I forgotten stuff over the years? You betcha! Have I worried about packing everything I needed before every trip? Yup, still to this day. Do I still love traveling, even if it’s mandatory? Absolutely. It’s different from when I traveled as a kid with my family or just my dad. Now I cherish my free time more. I explore the shops, restaurants, parks, & local hangouts as much as I can. Soaking it all in, in an attempt to remember everything. I take pictures like it’s going out of style. Write Google reviews so I have a record of where I was. Anything to preserve the memories.

Thoughts while in the air

On this last trip, as I sat back & watched the vehicles & buildings get smaller & smaller, I realized that traveling is like running away. Not 100% because I always come back home, but still for a brief moment in time, I am on the run. So in the end, I guess you could say that travel could be considered an acceptable form of running away. Maybe that’s why I love it so much. It’s a break from “reality,” a break from the everyday.

When we get stressed we’re encouraged to take a break. Sometimes we’re told to take some time off or go on a trip. For years & years I ran away to avoid confrontation, to avoid facing my pain & trauma. I was living in flight mode 24/7 & travel was merely a means of surviving, not a welcome or relaxing vacation.

What about you? Are you traveling or running?

Who is Erika E?

Erika is a 6-year Army vet turned IT geek who drinks copious amounts of coffee & isn’t afraid of struggle. When she’s not working, she loves writing, reading, & NOT arithmetic (but can calculate as needed). Oh, & as you’ll see from her posts, she doesn’t shy away from tough topics.

Got a story you want to share? Email her at erika@mentalgrenade.com

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