When I began blogging back in February I had big plans for my Travel & Adventure page. Having experience traveling with my daughter through all the various stages of her life, I have many tips and tricks to share about our many adventures for other parents.
Together we have explored multiple states across this great nation, seen amazing national parks, visited countless theme parks, taken several cruises, and explored parts of Europe and Mexico. My daughter turns eighteen next month and is already on her third passport! She took her first plane ride at three months old and she hasn't stopped...until this year.
The world, for the most part, is shut down. I know we will travel again and people are going to eventually want those tips and tricks, but right now doesn't feel like the time to share. Most of the people I know have put their travel plans on hold. We are all anxiously waiting for some small glimpse of hope that we can start to make plans to get out there again.
If you are anything like me you have a bad case of wanderlust. Wanderlust is a strong desire to wander and explore the world. Not everyone has it, but those of us who do are constantly trying to feed that desire. Travel is one of the best ways to lose yourself while at the same time finding yourself. Travel gives one a feeling of wonder and newness like we often experienced as children.
I think Bill Bryson said it best:
"I can't think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything. Suddenly you are five years old again. You can't read anything, you have only the most rudimentary sense of how things work, you can't reliably cross the street without endangering your life. Your whole existence becomes a series of interesting guesses."
Travel is the ultimate education. Learning about different places and cultures can open us up to new ways of thinking and new ways of doing. It can inspire creativity, cultivate new ideas, and make you appreciate how lucky you are to be in the world.
For me, the most difficult part of not being able to travel right now is the thought that in one year my daughter will leave for college. I'm sure we will still take family trips together after she leaves the nest, but they will be different. I'm trying to soak up as much as I can during this last year with her.
We had planned to take a social distance trip this summer, but it never seemed to work out. I was disappointed, but then 2020 actually threw me a bone! Our district decided to move the start date for school till after Labor Day - giving us a few extra weeks of summer! I didn't hesitate - I found and booked a beach house on South Padre Island for the week before school starts up again. It's the same week my daughter turns eighteen, so it's also a birthday trip. She is getting to bring her quarantine friend and we plan to seclude ourselves away and just relax on the beach (away from others.) I'm very grateful for this small opportunity.
This to shall pass. We will get out there again, hopefully sooner rather than later. Before I know it I'll be filling my Travel & Adventure page with tons of information and pictures. In the meantime, I'll take what little opportunities I can and I'll look back on past adventures and remember the fun we've had and the lessons we've learned. I'll remember all the wonderful places we have been lucky enough to visit.
Oh the places you will go...eventually.
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