Meeting My Namesake: Anticipation

    Sometime during September 2013 I went to the library to apply for my passport. I didn’t have a trip planned, nor the funds to travel. At the time, I was freelancing for various magazines and blogs, but I wanted to be prepared. New York is a city where literally anything can happen at any moment. I didn’t want to miss an opportunity because I neglected to get a passport. There was always that possibility of meeting Oprah, and her finally acknowledging that she is my aunt, then inviting me to accompany her on a world tour and taking notes for our collaboration on her autobiography. I’m still hopeful.

    Anyway, I bugged my mom to send my birth certificate and grudgingly paid the $135 fee. The little blue booklet arrived in the mail three weeks later. From what I hear that’s an unusually short turn around, but either way I was in no rush. It wasn’t like I had any solid plans anyway. Fast forward to earlier this year, roughly a year and a half later. It was a week after my 25th birthday. I was scrolling through Twitter when I saw a tweet from @Airfarewatchdog. It’s a page that curates tweets of flight deals from various airlines both domestic and international. I saw a bargain flight to Paris and froze.

    The urge to fly internationally had become annoyingly dominant in my thoughts. At this point I had to go somewhere and fast. Paris was perfect. I’ve always wanted to go there. Not to mention I would finally have a response to those well traveled people who when I introduced myself, would only hear the word Paris and ask me if I’d been. Usually I would smile, but be rolling my eyes in my head and say a modest, “No, but I’m dying to go.” Well here was my chance. I sat staring at the screen for all of five minutes, weighed my options, and texted just about everyone in my phone to go with me. 

    None of my friends were available. What?!  This wasn’t the time for them to bail on me. I even texted the friend who always has the funds to travel, but she had no more vacation days. Ugh. Maybe I should just go alone. I mean, it can’t be too bad. I travel around New York everyday by myself, and listen I’ve just about seen it all. I’m 25, I have no children, no husband, or anyone else to be responsible for, but me. This is the time to be spontaneous! I stared at the screen for all of five minutes, pulled out my card, and booked the trip.

    Then it hit me, I just booked a freaking trip to Paris! Like a shooting star across the sky a rush of excitement shot through my entire body. Despite the fact that I was at work, I got up and did a happy dance.  I ran into my boss’ office and told her I’d just booked a trip to Paris, and she shrieked and danced with me. (Yea, I know I have the coolest boss ever.) I raced back to my desk and emailed my confirmation ticket to my mom with I’M GOING TO PARIS!!!! in the subject line. Within minutes my phone was ringing. 

    “Hey Ma.”

    “You’re going to Paris? With who?” I could sense the worry in her voice.

    “By myself. I reached out to all of my friends, but none of them could make it. I got a really good deal on the ticket.”

    “I saw that, well congratulations boo!”     

    “Thanks Ma.”

    “Well, I have an idea, I wanted to see what you think about it.”

    “Okay.”

    “You’re going the week of Granny’s birthday. How do you feel about us joining you?”

    “You mean like a generational trip? Just us girls?”

    “Exactly. Just us girls.”

    “That’ll be so dope! I’d love it!”

    “Okay, so I’ll buy our tickets now. But, let’s keep it a secret. I’ll let her think we’re just coming to visit you in New York, then we’ll tell her once she gets there.”

    “Alright”

    “Well, let me get off the phone and figure this out. Love you.”

    “Love you too.”

    It turned out better than I’d expected. I was going to meet my namesake with the two women responsible for bringing me into this world! We would have these memories for the rest of our lives! Now I had to wait a long six months before the trip. And on top of that I had to bite my tongue to keep from telling Granny every time I spoke with her. I hate keeping secrets. Either way, the journey was solid.

LaParis was finally taking Paris!

Next Time: Meeting My Namesake: The Trip

Find out why I nearly had a panic attack on the flight to Paris, see all the beautiful pictures from our trip, and read about my intimate moment that involved James Baldwin and Langston Hughes.