Not all who wander are lost

My brother got a tattoo, which I think is awesome. He is the good child in the family, so that fact that he did something so "deviant" is fantastic. He skyped me and then he gave me a play by play as he showed our mom. My poor mother didn't take it too well, but I mean it's just a tattoo and it means something to him. BUT because he got one, that means I can get one. So for my 21st birthday I am getting a dandelion with some of the seeds blowing away with the quote "Not all who wander are lost" blowing away with them. I am getting that tattoo on my side, so it is going to hurt a lot. I initially wanted to get it on my wrist, but thinking about the future, it could become a hassle to have to constantly keep it covered up for my job, pictures, etc. So you may ask, then why get it if you are worried about it being covered? Aside from the childlike response of "Because I wanna", this tattoo means something very important to me. I have always loved the quote "Not all who wander are lost". I have posted it on my facebook page, written in my journal and used it as a semi-motto for my life. But what I understand now about that quote is that, it is ok to wander and to be unsure about one wants to do and just because I wander, doesn't means I am without purpose. France has taught me that. I am so used to the questions - "What do you want to be when you grow up?", "Where are you going to law school?", "When do you want to get married?", "Do you want children?", "What are you doing this weekend?" - And for once in my life I am going to say, I don't know. I don't know if I want to go to law school, if I want children, get married, if I want to eat pizza or pasta for dinner, wear my blue or black shoes, get up at 8 or 9 am - I just don't know. Why is everyone so obsessed with plans, charts, schedules and being so organized that they lose spontaneity, passion, and miss out of life because they are too busy planning it that they forget to actually live it. It's nice not knowing what is going to happen, but to just go with the flow. As I was thinking about what tattoo to get last night, I thought of the dandelion and how it is rooted in the ground, but its seeds travel and are planted in various areas where they will grow. That's me. I have roots in Chicago, Minneapolis, and Paris but I am looking forward to traveling more and (to be cliche) going where the wind takes me.

The other one I am getting is on my ankle and it is a shooting star. For those who know me, you know why I am getting it.

Aside from the tattoo excitement of last night, my last weekend in Paris with friends has been tame. I went out last night to get some Indian food with Deepa and Dan, went out today with Deepa for dinner and tomorrow we are going to get a drink after we turn in our papers.  I am also going to take a break tomorrow to go get my Longchamp purse. I have been bogged down by this paper I have to do for my class. It has been so long since I have written a paper, so the process has been going a little slower than I am used to but it's coming along.

I am really looking forward to being in Rome Tuesday with my family. I am sure that blogpost will be a fun one to write. Wish me luck on my paper.