A City Broad Abroad

Oh Valentines Day… I could go on about the commercialism of this holiday, but I will leave it at this; I don’t believe there should be one day a year dedicated to telling someone you love them. If you love someone, TELL THEM ALL THE TIME. Simple.

So what’s Valentines Day in Malta like? Honestly, if it wasn’t for the candy a classmate gave us all this morning (Thanks, Mahi!), I don’t think it would have even registered. I mean, granted I would have had to stay off of social media for the day, but you get my point.

I think maybe it’s because the entire country of Malta is hungover from Carnival? From what I was told, Carnival in Malta and, more specifically Gozo, gets pretty crazy. I wouldn’t know. I have been coup-ed up in my bed for a week with a gnarly cold.

Yup, my annual gnarly cold hit me…the day Mom left. You know what’s worse than being sick? Being sick when your mom can’t take care of you. You know whats worse than that? Being on the other side of the world from your mom when you are sick (thank you 9 hour time difference! I can’t even call her and be miserable!). What’s worse than that? When you get sick THE MORNING she leaves! It’s like a tease. Oh you don’t feel good? You want your mom? Guess what! She’s LEAVING today! SUCKA! Ha.

I don’t know why but this cold has been harder to shake than most. I seriously spent days on end in bed watching endless episodes of Law and Order SVU online. I finally am starting to feel better. Perfect timing for a my big birthday that happens in a few days. Yup, 30-1 is almost over. It’s been a good run, 29. I may let you stick around a while and just continue to be 29 for a bit. My dad was 39 for 16 some years before he started counting again (at least I think he’s counting again…), so maybe 29 will be that for me.

Back to the whole point of this post. Valentines Day. So who was my valentine this year? Well, I think I have two. A while back, months ago, someone reached out to me on flickr because they saw this photo of my mom from my time in Seattle before I moved. They asked me if I would be willing to submit a photo of my mom and a blurb about why I love her to their website. Of course I would! Gosh, what kid doesn’t want to tell everyone why their mom is the best? But you see, I had an issue. I am an only child and my family, we are a unit. A trio. I am a lot like both my Mom and my Dad. I am surely my father’s daughter and my mom is essentially my best friend. There’s no one else I would rather travel the world with. They go along with all the crazy travel things I want to do. Like, ride camels, climb to the highest point I can to get panoramic views of cities or visit the Capuchin Catacombs in Palermo. Or there was the time my dad and I rode around INSIDE a car on the flatbed of a tow truck in Southern Italy. Or the time I thought my Dad was going to go nuts because I insisted on sitting in the sun in St. Peter’s Square for three hours just so I could see the popemobile. There’s no one else I would want to go see the Rolling Stones with. In fact, we have pact. If the Stones ever play a city that either I or they live in, we fly and go as a family. We’ve done it twice. Once may or may not have included me telling my graduate school (the first time) professors that I had “an important family function” that I couldn’t miss…. Basically, my parents are awesome and fantastic. Not only to me either, to everyone. They have their “kids” – aka my friends – that all enjoy the benefits of my awesome parents (family dinners!)

Long story short, a few weeks ago. my photo of my mom (and of course my dad!) appeared on their website, Loving Our Moms. It was PERFECT timing as Mom was visiting me. She had no idea that I had submitted it and, though she doesn’t get too emotional, I could tell it tickled her heart when I showed it to her. So this year, my valentine(s) is my parents. They have supported me through thick and thin. Through all the craziness, through the phone calls crying, through the what the hell am I doing moments, even the what the hell am I going to do when I am done here moments, they have been nothing but supportive and loving during my adventure. For that reason, and because I forgot to send them Valentines Day cards (SORRY!), they are my valentines this year! I just hope that sometime in life they take their own wild adventure. Even though I would be sad to be on the other side of the world from them, I would be the first to tell them to go. They have supported me through my crazy decision, I would like to return the favor one day.

Love you Mom and Dad! See you in June! Greece, here we come!

And that’s the wonderful thing about family travel:  it provides you with experiences that will remain locked forever in the scar tissue of your mind.  -Dave Barry

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• Madness at the Maltese Carnival! (wickedandweirdaroundtheworld.com)