Bear necessities

"Time to get up boy," said a three-year-old girl's voice.

Myka had grown anxious about the presence of a new guest in her house in Edinburgh, and was losing her patience as I continued to sleep.

"Good morning," I said, trying to focus my eyes. "What time is it?"

"Eight o'clock," Myka said confidently.

I was surprised at how refreshed I felt at this hour of the morning since I had stayed out late the night before with Myka's dad, Bryan.

"Okay, I'm coming downstairs," I assured the curious child. I went to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, then flipped open my laptop to check for e-mail. I had not considered the fact that 3-year-olds don't typically tell time. It was 12:15 in the afternoon.

***

Although I haven't broken the habit of sleeping in past the a.m. since fighting a fever a week ago, I feel healthy and rejuvenated. And my wanderlust is back in full effect. Chatting with a travel agent over drinks late into the night will do that to you. Bryan, who owns a travel agency in Scotland's capital city, has been handing me travel guides throughout the week I've been staying with him and his wife Mandy in Edinburgh. I leave for Africa in 11 days for five weeks. The idea of heading home in August had been growing more and more concrete. But now, South America was looking pretty intriguing as I flipped through the pages and heard stories of people who'd spent time there. That would make every major continent in one journey. And what about Antarctica? Could I make it there?

I think it took a bit of comfort for me to be able to dream of exotic places and desire adventure once again. Bryan, Mandy, Myka, and Elvis, a Newfoundland who resembles a bear more than a dog, made me feel as close to at home as possible without actually being back in Iowa. They are friends of friends I had never met before who graciously invited me into their home for as long as I wanted to stay. I feel like I've known them much longer than a week. I got a good feel for the town and Scotish culture, but most of my time here was spent more as a citizen than a tourist. Going out for drinks at the local bars, heading to the theater to catch Ocean's 13, going for runs, walking the dog, watching Entourage. I think after five months of being on the road, I had craved comfort. And now that I've had a bit, I'm ready for some more adventure.

Bryan and I went cycling through the Scotish country a few days ago. The stone fences and the flocks of sheep that covered the rolling green hills was the Scotland I wanted to see. I felt far away once again, feeling the joys of exploration, wanting more of it.

***

I called home last night, knowing from an e-mail that my family would be gathered in my living room around 6:30 p.m. their time, 12:30 in the UK. The phone got passed from my brother to my grandma to my sister-in-law to my nieces to my dad to my mom to my other sister-in-law, ending with a final goodbye shout from everyone. I heard my mom yell, "Wait, one more thing," as my dad hung up the phone, but it was too late. The conversation was bittersweet. Of course it was great to talk to everyone, but all it did was make me want to be in my living room in Davenport. My brother rubbed in the fact they were eating my favorite pizza - taco pizza from Happy Joes. My nieces repeated sweet things my mom told them to say in the background like, "I love and miss you." I hinted at the fact that I might stay away for a while. I wasn't sure how they took it. They support me, but they want to see me. I love to explore, and yet I am a homebody. These are two opposite mentalities and it's difficult trying to deal with their coexistence. "When will you come home?" is the most popular question I get in e-mails. Honestly, I don't know the answer.

***

I woke up this morning later than I planned, leaving me not much time to pack for Africa. I'm heading to Ireland tonight, but I must condense my belongings since I plan to leave some things in Edinburgh with a planned return visit in August to spend more time with Bryan, Mandy, Myka and the bear, check out the Edinburgh Festival, and possibly find some work to fund a trip to South America.

Bryan loaned me some gear I may need for hiking through Africa. I narrowed down my wardrobe to a few t-shirts, a week's worth of socks and underwear, and two pairs of pants. I'm leaving behind my laptop, iPod, and other luxuries. I've become a bit of a minimalist, and I like it that way.

Bryan and Mandy will be picking me up to take me to the airport in just a few minutes. I just walked the bear and gave him a bit of pizza as a going away gift. Since I will not see Myka today, I said goodbye to her last night.

"I'm going to miss you," I said.

"I know," she replied.