Traveling (Wo)man

We have been a traveling family since the Summer I turned eight years old. That year we got a pop-up camper which we towed behind the station wagon. It was an ambitious, month-long adventure from New Jersey to San Francisco. The station wagon was full...Mom, Dad, Grandma Bessie, sisters Patricia and Judy, and me. In all truthfulness, I wasn't supposed to go. I was supposed to stay with my sister Betty and her family, but the night before the big trip, I was consumed with home sickness, and I was - begrudgingly - allowed to go. I believe it was the best experience I ever could have had.

The trip west from New Jersey doesn't start out particularly scenic, but after the first couple days, things got exciting. Our first stops included Wisconsin Dells, Sault Sainte Marie, Mitchell Corn Palace in South Dakota, Badlands, Mt. Rushmore/Black Hills, Yellowstone and Dinosaur National Monument. We made a short stop at cousin Rosalyn's in Rifle, Colorado so we could leave Grandma for a visit with her granddaughter's family. We proceeded on through Salt Lake City, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park before arriving in San Francisco. After a nice visit with Mom's sister, Ruth, in San Francisco, we headed south before turning back east. Yosemite National Park, The Redwoods and Mt. Whitney were our next destinations. At 2 A.M. (thinking it would surely be cooler by then) we crossed Death Valley. For the record, the thermometer was still topping out at 120 degrees! Oddly, one of my most vivid memories of the whole trip was drinking warm 7-Up (warm because all our ice had melted) driving through the seemingly endless desert in the dark. Next it was on to the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Four Corners, The Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Mesa Verde. We swung back up to Rifle to pick up Grandma, and we headed straight east back to NJ. Can you believe we visited all those places in one month? A trip that ambitious staggers my mind today!

Quite an impressive beginning as a traveler, huh?

We never did another month-long trip, but we did continue to travel every summer. We made more local trips to various locales in Canada, Niagra Falls and Thousand Islands. After my fifth grade research report on Kentucky, we were inspired to visit Luray Caverns.

Once my family moved to Colorado, we upgraded to an RV and our local trips changed to such destinations as Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Pikes Peak, Carlsbad Caverns, Jackson Hole, Las Vegas, Hoover Dam and Fresno. I had been to all those places by the time I reached the age of eighteen.

I am happy to say that Scott and I enjoy traveling together very much. We have had some of the very best trips of my life together. On our honeymoon we took a cruise that began in Montreal and sailed up the St. Lawrence River for a day in Quebec, a stop in Nova Scotia, then down the eastern seaboard with stops at Bar Harbor and Cape Cod, concluding in New York City. That was our first, but by no means our last trip to New York City. Scott and I have taken nine trips to the city since then. We have ventured back to our old stomping grounds in Colorado. We spent a lovely Thanksgiving holiday visiting with Scott's mom In Boca Raton, Florida, including a bonus three days at Disney World. Once we had a 20 hour adventure in Detroit...that is a story all on its own. Let's just say for now that we had a unique Detroit experience!

I am thankful that travel was a valued activity in my family. Starting from a very young age, I was exposed to many new places and experiences. I saw with my young eyes things others only imagined. All that time, my mind was being fed with the visions of my world...learning became an enjoyable, integral part of my life. The world became more than something I read about in a book, learned about in school or saw on TV. And I thought I was just on vacation!

Travel as an adult is a totally different experience. When my family went on vacation the goal was to have as many new experiences as we could. I guess in itself that is rejuvenating. When Scott and I get away to a new place, we - of course - try to do and see some new, exciting things, but mostly we like - and need - to take time to relax and renew ourselves. Some day I hope to return to some of those breathtaking locations with my Sweetie and see those places through adult eyes. That will make a beautiful full circle.

Either kind of travel is fine with me...it's been nice to take this little trip through my memories. I cherish them.