Moments Missed
Many years ago my daughters, second husband, and I took a trip to Arizona. Planning the Grand Canyon portion of the trip I called a tour service. Big mistake! Basically, they said the Grand Canyon was a big hole in the ground – 5 minutes is plenty. They could schedule us for a tour that would take us around the edges and let us see much more. Liar, liar, pants on fire. Turned out it was a tour of the forest alongside the Canyon. We were all sorely disappointed. The legacy moment was missed.
My best friend of nearly 40 years and I have been planning a road trip to explore some vineyards for at least 15 years. We’ve done numerous other trips together but somehow the vineyard trip hasn’t made it to the top. The legacy moment was missed.
My best travel companion and I had planned an amazing road trip for last year. I was to fly to St Louis, then we would drive to the Grand Canyon, then Phoenix – for a mindfulness retreat, then Vegas. Just before the trip was when I got the cancer diagnosis and had to cancel. The legacy moment was missed.
My work takes me all over the world. I’ve been to many countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the America’s. More often than not I don’t make the time for additional days to take advantage of the opportunity to see some of the local sites. Many legacy moments missed.
My sisters and I use to be better about planning long weekend away together. Life has gotten in the way and it’s been easy to put it off. Many legacy moments missed.
Growing up, we had a family tragedy (a story for another post) that the neighbors set up a baby sitting schedule to free up my parents time. The schedule typically had the boys go to one house and the girls to another. I suspect this is why to this day the girls typically plan outings together and the boys typically plan outings together. Granted, the three boys were closer in age, as were the five girls. With the three boys being older and the five girls being younger. (Family history also a story for another blog). Consequently, many legacy moments missed with my brothers.
Some of these moments will be made up with my husband, as he loves to plan these things and explore. I’m thrilled to explore and enjoy everything he schedules for us. I’m a great companion traveler. As long as I don’t have to do the planning, I’m happy going anywhere.
Road trips with girl friends will move way up on the priority list once I complete treatment. As will family gatherings. I make sure to get to Long Island and see as much family as possible, but more family time must become a priority. At a minimum making time for calls with each of them needs to become the norm not the exception. Family legacy moments may be the most important ones.
