Things have changed since our last “big” trip…
I made the plans through Expedia, bought tickets and booked rooms, and off we went.
Seven years later, after several cruises, we’re heading out again on a “big” trip. We’re going to London for a few days and then to Ireland for a week and back to London for a few days.
My parents are seven years older, as am I…and you. We’ve weathered a big move, kidney cancer, broken brittle bones, and overactive bladders. There was no 9/11 back then, no 3 oz. limits and plastic baggies (or at least, not ones carrying toiletry items). We wore our shoes from home onto the plane, slipping them off for that 10 hour flight. We wore belts, jewelry, and were allowed to smile and laugh in line.
Things have changed.
My parents live at the other end of our 1000 ft long driveway now. They lived 20 miles away back in 2001.
Papa is retired and his job is now to fetch the mail, do some mowing on this 20+ acres, visit with his favorite daughter while delivering the mail, play with the animals and feed them cookies (animal safe cookies, not chocolate chip people cookies!), and various and sundry other jobs.
Mama is retired, too, but who would know it…she volunteers five days a week. She’s a people person, and can’t take the quiet of the country.
This “big” trip came when Papa delivered the mail a couple of weeks ago. During our afternoon gab session, he said, “I’d really like to see Ireland one more time before I die.”, and it was ON!
How could I *NOT* take my parents back to Ireland one more time?!?
