Have you ever seen the I Love Lucy episode where Lucy, Ricky and the Mertzes were traveling through Italy? Lucy gets stuck at the border between Italy and France; because the gang was traveling by bicyle, she shipped her luggage ahead to Nice. And inside the lugguage? The passport, of course, or at least that’s what she believes. Of course, she had her passport with her all along, but she only remembers that fact after she’s practically ruined everyone’s vacation. That Lucy, she’s a stitch. That episode has nothing to do with my desire to use my passport (knock on wood). I just find it funny.

Unfortunately, I’ve had my passport for two years and not used it. Money situations, family deaths, etc. have come up. But I’m not getting any younger-and I’m fairly sure I’m getting older-so I’ve made a promise to myself that I’m going somewhere, early in 2006, that requires a passport. Besides Canada, though I certainly intend to travel there, too.

I’m not too choosy at this point. I’m such a provincial sort right now that I’ll take what I can get. Let me explain, I have almost enough frequent flyer miles to upgrade me to business class on an international flight; my partner has enough for the international flight outright. (They’re on Northwest, though….) I’m hoping that we can get organized enough to plan these miles into our travel budget. But the restriction on our use of these miles might end up helping us decide where to go.

Sigh. The carrot of frequent-flyer miles, plus the fact I could go anywhere and be happy, means that the plans are a little fuzzy right now. But at least I see a (plane) trip on the horizon. (Forgive the pun, I couldn’t resist.)