In a word: anxieties.
As we get closer to departure (can you believe that we're only three weeks away! I hope you put away any concerns you may have about this trip.
If you're at all worried about "fitting in" with the group or what you're going to wear at any given point or if you'll be able to communicate and get around in a foreign country, or what you'll do if you encounter an "issue" on the trip--don't worry--everything's going to be okay.
If you have any anxieties about anything at all related to this little party, put them aside. It's going to be fine.
As for the people going on this trip--every one of us is a pretty wonderful human being. We're all weird in our own little ways--I've known most of you for many, many years, and I can state that with certainty. We're also very different from one another in many ways. But I think that weirdness and those differences are going to come together in a beautiful and groovy way over the course of our journey together. I am so excited about spending this time with each and every one of you that I can't stand it. So don't worry about what "the group" will think of you--we love you already or you wouldn't be with us.
For those of you who have never been overseas or haven't been in a long time, don't worry about communication or getting along "over there." Europeans are used to dealing with people who don't speak their tongues. There are a whole lot of countries in Europe and more languages than countries and they know how to make it work. The truth is that one of the big ways they make it work is by pretty much everyone speaking some English.
And when you have to deal with someone who can't or won't speak English, you'll be amazed at how much you can communicate by pointing and gesturing.
You may get lost in Paris, I'd be disappointed if you didn't, but, trust me, you'll get found again. So be brave, be adventurous and don't be afraid to strike out on your own now and then.
Don't worry about what's going on back home while you're away. If someone dies or the house burns down, you'll probably get a call. And if you don't get that call, you can assume that all is well on the home front.
And the bulk of our trip is going to be spent on a barge in Burgundy with a crew of five dedicated to catering to our every whim. We're going to be wined, dined, toured and generally treated like royalty. I can't imagine anything going wrong on that part of the tour.
If there's a medical issue, there are doctors and drugstores in France and we have two health professionals in our group. If you forget to bring something with you, they have something like it or better over there too.
If you get robbed or pickpocketed, you've got a great story, and we'll make sure your trip goes on.
If you want to be anxious about anything at all, you have my permission to be anxious about getting to the airport plenty early for our flight to France. After you've boarded the plane, everything else will fall into place.
One last piece of advice while I'm thinking of it, and this is based on a whole lot of experience. Make good plans, but don't be afraid to divert from them from time to time. Don't be a slave to your itinerary, your agenda or your checklist of sights to see. Some of the most memorable experiences you have will simply happen when you're not looking for them. But they'll only happen if you let them.
Sometimes you don't take a trip--sometimes you let the trip take you.
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