What getting old means...

[wiseheart]

... is finding yourself outside the mainstream of normal, everyday life. It's sad, but it's true.

I've talked Mum into going to Hamburg in this summer, mainly because I've never been there before (neither has she, for that matter), but also because from Hamburg it's relatively easy to make a one-day-trip to Lübeck, one of the most beautiful Hansa-cities of Germany, and, last but not least, to finally meet the most gracious songfire3 and my little sis in crime, artemis10002000 in person. I like meeting my online friends in person. It's always an adventure and a wonderful surprise.

Anyway, when I was young - which was literally in the last millennium - in such cases I simply walked into the travel agencey (we only had the one, back in the goode olde days), told them the train route I wanted to go, and they made me the train ticket. Then I wrote a letter to the hotel, booked a room, got the written reassurance, and when I arrived, I paid for the room in cash, and that was that.

Today, in our wonderful modern time of online booking and internet research, I'm close to giving up the entire idea. Honestly. I just can't keep up with all this virtual stuff. Last night I was in tears from frustration. Every time I think I've mastered one step in this amazing process that supposed to make my life sooo much easier, I stumble over a new problem and I'm just plain fed up with the whole thing!

I know it's just because I'm hopelessly behind the time. Any twelve-year-old would laugh their heads off over the problems I'm constantly having. For them, it's the most natural thing in the world to organize everything by mouseclick and not to give shit about the additional costs. That's what they've grown up with. But I haven't, and it's getting too much.

The lady in the local office of the travel agency (yes, surprisingly enough, it's still in business, despite our current government's efforts to destroy everything that was good in the previous regime) promised to help me with the booking. Anf she said that in their central office - which is also well within reach for me - they can put together the train ticket for me, so that I can pay for the whole route in our national currency (and believe me, considering the current Forint/Euro exchange rate, it's a very important factor) in advance.

I'll give it another try next week. If it doesn't work, I'll just stay at home. Or don't go any further than Vienna, unless with a package holiday organized by some travel company. I'm simply not up to deal with all this stress. *sighs*

Comments

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I wonder when did it happen that life left us behind so utterly? *is frustrated*

[rcfinch.livejournal.com]

Maybe we were born in the wrong time?