This is the trip that almost wasn’t. And by trip, I mean trip of a lifetime. Husband, aka, Mad Scientist Miles Man has done it again.
Figured out a way we can take our two girls to Africa for Christmas. Yeah, Africa. Land of elephants, lions, and hippos. Home of Nelson Mandela.
Husband figured out a way a few months ago with his miles magic he could make this happen for $100 a person.
I’m not kidding. For 400 bucks, we started packing our things.
It’s crazy. We were crazy excited. And then, just like that, the world seemed to get really crazy.
Paris, San Bernardino, threats to blow up a thousand schools. It’s enough to make you want to hole up in your house and shut the door. To cancel travel plans.
Husband and I couldn’t help but look at each other and ask, “Should we go?” I know we’re not alone.
Whether you were going to Africa, Akron or Alabama this holiday season, I wouldn’t be surprised if you, too, have been asking the same question, Dear Reader.
Do you go? Is it possible the world has gotten too scary to travel?
Ironically, it has been the continued awful attacks here at home that has helped us make up our minds. If two crazies can target a center that helps disabled people way on the outskirts of Los Angeles, if a driver can mow down 38 pedestrians along the Las Vegas Strip, the truth is bad things can and do happen anywhere.
If you really want to drill it down, I look at my friend, Clare, who is still on the rebound from breast cancer surgery. You could say the terrorist known as “cancer” showed up right inside her body.
Where can you really go and hide? You might add up your odds, your fears, your comfort level and make a different decision about traveling.
We have decided to go. To give our girls this opportunity while we can.
I look at our picture of our family atop the Eiffel Tower from two years ago. That same experience wasn’t possible for many weeks following the Paris attacks. Not everyone is going to agree with our decision to go.
You can put my own mother on that list. Sorry, Mom.
The tiebreaker? Honestly? It was simply, life.
Some twisted person with crazy ideas of what it means to honor God or some terrible disease might ultimately get the choice of how we die. But they don’t get the power to decide how we live. Not in this family. And so, we’re going. Because we can.
As we do, let me wish you and your family safe passage in the new year and the gift of cherishing this moment. This moment that we have. After all, isn’t that ultimately the best trip of all?
About the Author
