Beth Cassini: In My Monet: 2015

Quickly, my perspective shifts. In an instant, I feel new sensations that keep me engaged in an exhilarated now. For as long as I want, I can conjure these collected feelings and reap the benefits again and again. I can relate, with more understanding, to others. I can understand with more clarity a variety of topics. I feel expanded and my consciousness feels more explored. I am aware that although nearly everything in the world is presented as finite, within me is an infinite space in which to grow. It sounds like a power trip, right? But, the power is in a feeling of humility and opportunity to create within the grandness. We live in a grand scheme of things we like to say. So, why should we stay still in a finite perspective for a lifetime?

This is all about travel. It’s not a power trip. It’s experiencing the power of a trip.

I saw my mom walk across a pebble beach and put her feet in the Adriatic Sea. I stood above on a sidewalk with my eye pressed to a camera lens and as I situated her on the right side of the shore with a sunset and sea horizon stretching left until my little box of the world went black, I felt like she looked so little while becoming part of something so big. I took the picture and announced in my thoughts, “Mom, In the Grand Scheme of Things.” She was experiencing something more and becoming more and I could feel the privilege of being witness to it. I could feel her being in a powerful now. I could almost feel the water on my skin as I happily watched her be in the sea. She was truly being a part of the grandness, feeling the moment and letting it give her the gift of now… to keep forever. I think I too will keep that moment forever. I have the photo, but it’s nothing like seeing with new vision once a new wonderful thing has happened. It’s a beautiful proof. The beautiful truth is my mind’s eye. I can see it and feel it over and over because I was entirely focused.

Mom- stepping in the Adriatic sea

Mom came to Montenegro ten days ago. Her most used word has been “Wow.” She uses many tones to communicate the different impressions of each view, but instead of searching for a word, she uses the one readily available. This is a “wow” kind of now, I agree.

Porto Montenegro, Old Town Kotor, the ancient Wall of Kotor, the view of Sveti Stefan, Old Town Budva- our nine day demo of Montenegro.

Day ten held the realization of a wish never sent to the stars. She insists that, “never in my wildest dreams did I think I would see these places”. But I believe she must have at least whispered secret wishes of distant travel at some point. Montenegro may not have been on the wish list, it is after all, a secret gem still, but these other cities we’ll be visiting were surely dreamed of at some point in time.

You see, I’ve been scheming. For mom’s first trip to Europe, I thought she might want to explore a little more territory. I carry a teal folder that reveals a travel route that I consider pure bliss. It’s a grand scheme.

To start, Vienna, Austria.