A New Chapter Begins
For years, every journey began with Gene beside me. After he was gone, I
wondered whether travel would
ever feel joyful again. Then a group of friends invited me to pack my bags, and I
discovered that the road
ahead could hold both cherished memories and unexpected new beginnings.
After hearing stories about the trips Gene and I had taken, friends began
asking to join me. When Gene
passed away, several women from church encouraged me to plan a trip with them. Their
invitation opened
the door to a new chapter, one shaped by friendship, laughter, and the realization that
travel could still bring
joy.
Our First Adventure in France
Our first trip together took us to Marseille, France, where four of us shared a
three-bedroom house with a
swimming pool for two weeks. We spent the first few days getting our bearings and
confronting an
unexpected challenge: the washing machine.
- This was before I knew how to use my phone to translate instructions written in a
foreign language.
- Four women trying to operate an unfamiliar washer was a comedy.
- The clothes came out clean but soaking wet, and the dryer never seemed to dry much
of anything.
- Fortunately, the French sun never failed us.
- We learned to navigate Marseille’s subway and buses.
- We took fast trains to explore other parts of the region.
- Knowing how to ask for directions gave us confidence, and people graciously helped
us find our way.
The more countries I visit, the more I understand a simple truth: when you
respect people and remember
that you are a guest in their country, they usually meet your questions with patience
and kindness.
Learning to Travel Differently
That first trip after Gene’s passing taught me I could keep traveling and enjoy many of
the things we once shared. The experience was not the same without him, and it never
would be, but it could still be meaningful. I was learning to move forward, just
differently.
Gene and I once toured Ireland by motorcoach, a style of travel unlike most
of our other adventures. So
when another friend invited me to plan a trip, I suggested something similar: begin in
Amsterdam, travel across part of Europe, and end in London.
A Heartwarming Reunion in Amsterdam
To my surprise and delight, I learned that Gabby, our former exchange student from
Brazil whom we had
hosted twenty-five years earlier, was living in Amsterdam with her husband and their
little girl. On my first
morning there, I took an Uber to their home. We had a delightful visit, and I had the
joy of holding the baby.
Gabby still calls me her American mom.
She reminisced about how Mr. Hamil had taught her to drive and bowl. I
certainly did not need a reminder of
those driving lessons. When Gabby returned to Brazil, she sold the poor car she had put
through so much
wear and tear to an unsuspecting buyer.
Hearing Gabby share her memories of Gene made the visit especially
uplifting. It reminded me that the
people we love continue to travel with us through the stories we tell, the laughter we
share, and the lives
they touched.
Returning to Alaska
In the years that followed, travel continued to reconnect me with people, places, and
memories of Gene.
One destination carried meaning: Alaska.
Gene and I first traveled to Alaska to visit a friend who was teaching in Anchorage. We
stayed with our
friend, then drove to see Mount McKinley.
Since 2022, I have settled into my living situation. I live with my retired,
single niece, who has traveled
widely but has never visited Alaska. I revisited Alaska and took a cruise with her to
experience this beautiful
region. It was a joy to visit a place Gene and I had enjoyed so much together. Returning
to places we visited
together helps me relive the memories we shared.
Embracing Every Detour
I have planned most of my travels and often serve as my own travel agent. This past May,
however, a
professional handled a cruise for thirty-one people, and I learned that expertise cannot
prevent delays,
missed flights, or an unexpected night in an airport. I was supposed to land in Athens,
Greece, but instead
landed in Istanbul, Turkey, a country not on the agenda and a place I had never been.
After sleeping at
O’Hare while waiting for an early-morning flight, I remembered another airport night
earlier, when a Denver
storm left Gene and me on cots at DFW. Travel still surprises me, but every detour
carries a story, and
sometimes a memory of Gene, forward.
The Journey Ahead
Looking back, I have learned that moving forward does not mean leaving the past behind.
Every
destination, reunion, and unexpected detour has shown me that joy can return in
different forms, especially
when shared with good companions and guided by treasured memories. I am realistic about
how my age
may shape future trips, but I have no intention of giving up the travel I love. Next
Saturday, I will set out for a
place I have never explored, this time with three friends, grateful for what lies ahead
and knowing that Gene
remains part of every journey I take.
