I am on a plane. On my way to see my 97 year old grandmother. Leaving the country means not seeing loved ones anytime in the near future. At 97 that future might be shorter than others.
I planned this trip a month ago. My cousin Suzie has always been afraid to drive her car across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, a 3.5 mile span of bridge connecting mainland Maryland to the Eastern Shore. She normally pays $35 each way for someone else to drive her car across. I offered my sevices in lieu of room and board at her lovely home in DC. She and I have always been pretty close cousins.
When leaving on your infinite trip, traipsing off to other parts of the world, one of the choices you make is to leave your family. At our age that family runs deep. No kids of our own, but plenty of cousins we’ve watched grow up and have families. Nieces and nephews who have grown up and had kids. Friends who have grown up around you and had kids. These are as much family as if we had had our own. I think it is a little easier to leave them behind though… you know their immediate families are close and watching over them. You kind of realize how alone your life really is.
Now I know we have worked just as hard as the family and friends around us. We have been able to make investments and cash out on those to fund our next phase of life. We don’t have to think about any legacy, how to make our kid’s lives easier once we are gone… by the time that happens our family’s kids would be having kids. Life is somewhat selfish when you don’t have any immediate legacy to worry about.
Looking out the window of the plane I see flat. I am on my second leg through Minneapolis on to D.C. My family has seen my FB post and realize this is it… figure out how to visit with me now or continue to visit via internet. Growing up there was no internet, cell phones, texting or ” blogging”. You got in your car and drove to visit your people. You planned elaborate dinners around holidays. I think I actually like the virtual connections better. A whole year would go by without a word then you are thrust back into each other’s lives and try to play catchup in a few hours.
Introduce internet, cell phones, Facebook, Instagram and so forth and now on an almost daily basis we can see their kids grow up, achievements, and ups and downs. It’s like being in their lives on a weekly basis. You can visit and continue a conversation without the catch up. It brings the entire world into your grasp. It makes the world a smaller more friendly place. It connects generations. Opens new worlds once thought unachievable. It becomes a road map to exploration of foreign cultures and life styles… without being so foreign anymore. It also has taken us away from today. Heads down in our phones. Find a balance. The world is still out there.
Two Travelin' Chicas... A Grand Adventure 
What a beautiful post…I relate to parts in it. Here’s to the goodness that social media brings into our lives!
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Very nice
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Johnna, this post touched my heart. I can identify with your feelings/words about family. I’m close with my sister, brothers, and their kids, but their families are THEIRS. When I’m gone, I leave no legacy to them, just that I was their aunt who loved them.
I had my marriage of 21+ years and my wonderful time (loving, challenging, and tender) with dear Faye. Those times are gone, only the dear memories.
I’m not embarking on a new chapter. I plan to share it with you and hope you can accept and be happy for me.
Also, want to hear about visiting your grandma and others. So glad you took the time to visit them.
Love always,
Sylvia
On Sat, Nov 11, 2017 at 8:03 AM, Two Travelin’ Chicas… A Grand Adventure wrote:
> Two Travelin’ Chicas… A Grand Adventure posted: “I am on a plane. On my > way to see my 97 year old grandmother. Leaving the country means no seeing > loved ones anytime in the near future. At 97 that future might be shorter > than others. I planned this trip a month ago. My cousin Suzie has always > been afra” >
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