Travel

Fall / Winter Break 2019 - 2020
21 November 2019 - 4 January 2020

"By endurance we conquer."
Ernest Shackleton's family motto

"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. This I did."
Thomas Edward Lawrence
(dubbed "Lawrence of Arabia" by Lowell Thomas)
Seven Pillars of Wisdom

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Mattskrit Notes

20 November 2019

Last Friday I was ruminating in the whirlpool at the gym. Capacity: nine. There was room for eight more. As the girl at reception said, it was time to release some endorphins and that I did. There I was, licking my wounds (figuratively) after a potent workout. Reflecting on the other wounds of the day, the work wounds. Then I started thinking about the upcoming vacation. I started thinking of past trips. Packing right before the shuttle comes to pick me up at some ungodly hour early in the morning – virtually no sleep during the night. Taking off, typically unprepared beyond airfare and the requisite visas. Having work-related nightmares for the first couple nights. How it felt like it'd take the Jaws of Life to extricate me from the daily grind and other responsibilities – from looking after Mom and making sure she's okay while I'm away. And ensuring she knew I was going to be gone on a trip. But I'd be back; she hadn't been abandoned.

Times have changed. Not necessarily for the better.

And it occurred to me I just found the title for this trip: The Mattalorian.

No. Just kidding.

Mattopia Jones and the Jaws of Life.

Runners up included Mattopia Jones at Wit's End, Mattopia Jones Goes for Broke and Mattopia Jones and the Rise of the Joshua Tree.

The more I think about it, the more I like Jaws of Life. Right off the bat, it can be taken one of two ways. And there's a third meaning that's much deeper and personal.

The trip hasn't been written yet, so maybe it's a little odd to have the title already. Then again, there are enough "plot points" already identified – the U2 gigs, the countries, the cities, the deeper factors driving this crazy idea for a "trip."

What a painful year. The worst. This trip was intended to be a release all year long. The timing around the holidays was strategic and seemingly ideal. And yet one obstacle after another was thrown in the way. This trip's been doubted, expected, expanded, contracted and almost kiboshed (a couple times).

Jaws of Life indeed.

As I've often said, there's never a good time to take a vacation.

So, now's the perfect time to go.

A Fistful of Concert Tickets

1. Perth, Australia, Optus Stadium — 27 November U2019 — General Admission
2. Tokyo, Japan, Saitama Super Arena — 4 December U2019 — General Admission
3. Tokyo, Japan, Saitama Super Arena — 5 December U2019 — General Admission
4. Seoul, South Korea, Gocheok Sky Dome — 8 December U2019 — General Admission
5. Mumbai, India, D.Y. Patil Stadium — 15 December U2019 — General Admission

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INT. AIRPLANE CABIN

Mattopia Jones takes his coach seat by the window. The app says it's a 15-hour flight from San Francisco. Destination: Hong Kong. It's only a connection, but, even so, hopefully getting in and out will be uneventful.

MATTOPIA JONES (muttering)
What a way to start a vacation.

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