Mom and Dad have traveled a lot during their years together. Everywhere they were stationed, they explored the countryside and took us kids along for the journey. Dad has hundreds of slides and photographs from their adventures.
Since I was born so late, I missed a lot. I didn’t make it to the Holy Land; well, I kinda did since Mom was pregnant with me, but I didn’t see much! I missed Spain and Texas and Alabama…the list is lengthy. We did travel quite a bit once Mom and Dad retired to Clarkesville, however. Since they had known so many career military families, they had friends all over the country. One trip we went across the bottom of the United States and up Idaho and back across the top! We had a pickup that Dad outfitted with a topper and a mattress in back and I saw America through the little windows of that cover.
They don’t travel anymore. Occasionally Dad will make an overnight journey, but he’s said he’s not going anymore because he doesn’t think Mom should miss him. My niece, however, is graduating from high school in San Antonio and he’s made all of the other grandchildren graduations so he needs to make this one, too. My goal for the next month is to convince him to go.
I love to travel. The best part is the coming home. I recently spent the night with my dear friend Emily in the hospital. It was a joyous time; she had a beautiful baby girl. It wasn’t a distant journey, but it was out of the ordinary. I always appreciate my “ordinary” so much more after a brief respite. I think that’s why I’m insisting that Dad go to San Antonio. Not just because he should be there for Lydia. Not just because I think a change of scenery would do him good. I want him to miss Mom and on some level, for her to miss him. It’s hard in the midst of ordinary days to realize how extraordinary this time is.
Emily and I were discussing how long the days can seem when you first bring baby home. You can’t easily leave the house, and friends and family have gone back to their jobs. Traveling with baby is more effort than you can muster because of lack of sleep and the effort it takes to get everyone ready. Dad understands that well from the other end of life. Traveling with Mom requires a great deal of patience. There’s the dressing and the trying to keep her focused to get out the door – so much distracts her! The slow, steady stride to keep her from falling. It’s amazing to me how similar the two situations are. Either way, when you feel stuck at home, the time creeps by.
That’s why I have travel on the brain today. I spend my days on the go – I practically live in my car. The idea of being home day after day suffocates me. Taking Mom out has become so difficult and time-consuming. Once again, I am reminded of how much we depend upon Jean, Mom’s other caregiver. Jean comes 4 or 5 mornings a week to let Dad get out each day. For a man who has traveled the world and is so independent, he needs his mornings out! Jean is good to Mom and to all of us. She knows who’s who in all the pictures and listens to stories over and over again and laughs and loves with Mom. What a gift!
Dad has traveled to a lake to go fishing with my oldest brother today. It’s a beautiful spring day and I know he’s happy to have the sun on his back. It’s a short journey but a necessary one. He’ll come back renewed and refreshed and ready to appreciate the “ordinary.” And that is extraordinary in so many ways!
