Dear So and So

[emily_in_nc]

Mimi, you are way, way, way stronger than I would be. You are fierce, and I admire the h e l l out of you. The fact that you are doing anything at all -- much less getting ready to travel out of the country -- is a testament to your strength of character and spirit.

Hugs!
Emily

[Biciclista]

thank you all for your nice words. I am seeing family in ITaly, including someone who was recently widowed when i visited her the last time (and she's my age) and a bunch of other cousins. And both of my adopted daughters. (adopted as adults)
I don't know how strong I am. I know i have to keep busy, I know i have to stay strong. As horrible as Donald's cancer was, he exceeded expectations because he continued to work out. Two weeks before he died, he told me that he sang every day. He took walks every day until a week before he died. (and he continued to walk until the day he died). He also worked on his balance. Up to the very end, he put his pants on standing up... No kidding. I think it bought him time and quality of life too. With someone like that to inspire me, I cannot do less.

[maillotpois]

He was inspirational. And you know he wants you right back out there walking, riding and enjoying your life. That probably makes it a little easier, but not much. Big huge hug to you. Wish we were closer and DD and I would take you for a pokey ride.

[Biciclista]

I have two rides lined up, one friday and one tuesday. And maybe another ! thanks all.

[indysteel]

I have two rides lined up, one friday and one tuesday. And maybe another ! thanks all.

That's great, Mimi! I wish I could join you!

[Biciclista]

that would be awesome!
When I get back from Italy, I will be scheduling more rides.

[Crankin]

Have fun in Italy, Mimi. How wonderful to have family there.
I am so glad I got to meet you! Of course, my vacation seems like a dream right now, a hundred years ago.
Post pictures, if you can.

[Veronica]

Dear Self,

Maintain your positive attitude. Don't let the whiners and idiots surrounding you, bring you down. Seriously, what is their problem? It doesn't matter, it's their problems.

Veronica

[shootingstar]

Inspiring about Don's willpower.... and yours to continue onward.

A work colleague will be going to Italy with his wife in 2 wks. His first trip to Europe @ 45 yrs. old and he's nervous thinking about it. Probably the hardes thing for him might be the language matter. (And he's never been to Asia/Africa/South America either).

I also look forward to new painting works on your blog when you get around to it.

[Crankin]

Shooting Star, I didn't go to Europe until I was 50. Went to the UK the first time, but just 2 months later, I went to Germany and Italy (where I had my exchange student in one place and my son in the other to translate). The language stuff doesn't bother me, but traveling was just not something my own family did. They went to the same place, on Cape Cod, every summer, and really did not see why anyone would want to do anything else. My parents took occasional trips to NYC, always around my dad's business trips. After my parents moved away from MA, they did do more exploring, usually by car in Florida, Arizona, and California. My mom never went out of the country, except to Mexico (by car), although my dad did go to Europe and Japan on business. His parents even lived in Florence for several years (my grandfather moved his shoe business there), but we (my mom, brother, and I) never went to visit. In fact, my extended family made fun of people who traveled, as in "why would they want to go anywhere except Massachusetts?" Perhaps this is a hyper version of New England chauvinism, but mostly, they are afraid of doing or experiencing anything different. A few years ago my aunt was at my house, and my DS was showing her pictures he took in Spain after he got back from his deployment there. Her comment was, "It looks like a fairy tale." She couldn't comprehend that there are places like that in the world, that are real.
While I enjoy traveling now, I don't do well with the time zone changes and often get sick either at the beginning of a trip or, more often, when I get home. It's not fun, especially when I've been sick at the beginning of a bike tour, as I was in Prague.

[Veronica]

Travel to Europe is not cheap. The median household income in the US is $50,000. Most people just can't afford to travel to Europe.


I've only been to the Azores. Whenever we think about planning a vacation, we talk about Europe, but there are some fascinating places to visit here. It's cheaper to fly to Hawaii than to Boston from CA. Flying to Europe from here takes FOREVER. When you only have so many vacation days, you don't want to waste them on travel. If we can, we prefer to drive to our vacation destination.

Veronica

[limewave]

We are celebrating our 10 year anniversary next year. Because of extenuating circumstances we never had a honeymoon. We always imagined that for our 10 year we would do a honeymoon/anniversary extravaganza and travel abroad. Well, that's not going to happen. We certainly can't afford it. In fact, we've nearly settled on a plan that includes driving two hours from our home and camping for four days. We decided that if our circumstances happen to improve, we'd buy ourselves really nice carbon fiber road bikes and spend our anniversary riding from camp

To be honest, I hate flying. I always get sick. I like our travel trailer, it feels like home to me. Hotel rooms feel like a cage. DH and I once got lost in a "french-speaking" area of Canada and it made me nervous, lol.

Someday I will travel and explore other countries, but its not in the cards right now and I don't have the desire to make it work. I have friends that have taken their kids to Europe as a high school graduation gift . . . that's something to think about. I would like to do something like that for my kids.

----------
Dear DH,

DS rode his bike without training wheels for the first time last night. I am sorry that you missed it. Missed seeing his proud smirk stretch across his face, his shoulders back and bursting with confidence. You really should work to change things so you don't have to be gone as much. I am proud and happy that I was able to teach DD and DS to ride their bikes. But it saddens me that you've missed out on so many things. I wish these events could be "family" instead of "mother-child" memories.

~Limewave

[indysteel]

I have friends that have taken their kids to Europe as a high school graduation gift . . . that's something to think about. I would like to do something like that for my kids.

Don't sweat it if that also turns out not to be in the cards. I think a lot of Europe would be wasted on, or underappreciated by, kids that age.

IMO, the experiences you're providing them on their bikes is pretty darn cool. Lucky kids; I wish I'd learned to mountain bike as a child. I'm sorry your DH missed DS's big day on the bike though.

[Biciclista]

We were really poor in the 1980's. My husband received a check for something work related; maybe a grant because he had been unemployed and got a job, something. It was for $800. He gave it to me and told me to go to Italy. Our idea of a vacation previous to this was to drive to the coast (3 hours) and sleep at his sister's house, then turn around and come home the next day. THat's when i first got to Europe. while many of us really cannot afford to travel, i do believe a lot of it is priorities. You can save money for a trip or you can save money for a bike. Or bike events. or or or. Crankin, I do know the mentality that you are describing, it cracks me up. I grew up on the east coast, so I recognize it. Most the people I knew had been to NY NJ and PA. period. That was the whole world to them.
I am typically a very frugal traveler I do not spend on hotels and I rarely eat out. Yep, it's kind of like it was when we were poor. I am sleeping at cousin's and friends' houses when i go next week. For others of you who are not blessed with friends and relatives in Europe, there are home exchanges, warm showers and um drat, I can't think of the other one. You don't have to spend a fortune on travel. But bottom line, this country we live in is huge and has lots to offer right around here.
WHen my sons were in highschool, their orchestra took them to Europe. Oh that was expensive. THere were fund raisers, but bottom line, Donald and I had to cough up a lot of dough for two kids. We wondered how our petulant teenaged sons would show their appreciation upon their return. Oh brother, we never should have worried. THey came home and gave us hugs and went on and on about how wonderful the trip had been for them. It opened their eyes to the world. Both have traveled since. They are international travelers and are both more sophisticated for it.
I used to love to fly, but circumstances have made flying at the least unpleasant, and airports downright miserable. But at least for me,it's worth it.

Shootingstar, I will post a few more paintings by the weekend.

[indysteel]

I'm glad your boys got so much out of a trip to Europe at that age. I guess I've talked to too many friends and colleagues whose teenage children seemed oblivious to where they were. I suppose, like most things, it depends on the kids and their parents.