A few years ago Rita Goldman Gelman came to the Vashon
Bookshop and read from her book Tales of
a Female Nomad. I was totally captivated by this “older” woman who was
travelling in far flung places on her own and making friends within the culture.
I had travelled in my 20’s and that was fortunate since at the age of 28, I
became the mother of a profoundly disabled daughter. The 28-year voyage with
Rachel and the rest of the family (husband Roger, and children Ben and Rebecca)
was every bit as challenging, interesting, educational, and special (and at
times difficult) as several around-the-world trips. At the time that I read Rita’s
stories, I knew that such a life would not be possible for me, but I lived
vicariously through her books and others like them. I have always believed that
the best and richest education can be found through travel to other cultures.
Our family was fortunate in that we got to visit many places in the US camping
and hiking throughout the West. But I did not leave the country at all after
1978, except for short hops across the Canadian and Mexican border.
In 2006, my life began to change. Roger and I separated and
spent several years in adjustment. Ben and Rebecca grew up and left home and
returned and left home. I was living and caring for Rachel and taking care of
our property on Vashon. In 2010 Rachel must have decided that she was tired of
putting up with a body and mind that would just not cooperate with her and she
passed away quite unexpectedly. Now I was living in a much-too-big house. About
a year after Rachel’s death, I finally realized that I could travel again. I
remembered Rita’s book and read it again. It took me a couple more years to
come to terms with this, decide where and why I would go, and sell my home. The
property serendipitously went to a wonderful family who has renovated the house
and is re-making the garden, yard and forest. And I am free to travel—albeit on
a strict budget.
Another thing that has happened over the years: I renewed my
love of knitting and even learned to spin on a drop spindle. Reading yarn
labels, I noticed that much of the wool and all the alpaca yarn I used came
from Peru. I really knew nothing of the country, but fantasized that it would
be interesting to see where this yarn was milled and learn about the people
there. So, I decided that my knitting and rudimentary spinning skills would be
the avenue into exploring the culture and getting to know people. (I am much
more interested in learning how people live than in seeing the museums and
sites—although those can be interesting
as well.) So, Peru it was to be and not for some short whirl-wind tour. I
planned to go for almost four months! Four months! If you are going to spend
the money and time to get here you just need to take advantage of it and stay
for a while! So here I am on my second day in Arequipa, in the south of Peru.
Thank you, Rita!