where in the world is Carmen Sandiego

Some of you are old enough to remember this catchy little tune which was the theme song of the cartoon. I especially remember Chase loving this show… It was an awesome little show that was very educational….. in that the geographical facts were presented clearly. I don’t think MTG watched since she recently called Africa a country, but that’s a story for a braver day, ha

What I’m thinking about this summer afternoon is how my facebook feed has morphed into a travel brochure. It seems my friends are traveling more than ever this summer. Forget the beach and Disney World, just today I saw gorgeous pics from Portugal, Greece and Italy.

Ya’ll, what the heck! I can’t convince Jack to cross the bridge to Memphis.

My parents took one REAL vacation in their entire lives and it was a doozy. In 1962 the World’s Fair was in Seattle. For some crazy reason my mother was bound and determined that we go. Of course I was 3 that summer so I remember nothing about the trip….guess it could be a family legend, ha

Anyway, as the story goes….. 3 families from MYRTLE decided to drive across country with all of their children (4 Wilkersons). Mother also decided she needed to buy a new car for the trip. WHAT THE HECK? She purchased (and I’m sure paid cash) for a new Chevrolet Bel Aire. It was a beauty. Mud brown and no air-conditioning. I think JoKay and Becky got to ride with friends and Mike and I were in the back seat of said vehicle. He was in Junior High and I’m positive he loved riding along with his annoying 3 year old little sister.

I’m told that there were many roadside picnics along the way, especially one instance by a river (perhaps the Colorado but I’m not sure) where I managed to escape whichever teenager was supposed to be babysitting me. After several frantic moments my mother located me up the river throwing rocks into the rushing water. Just so ya know I haven’t thrown any rocks lately (but election season is coming.)

Another trip legend was the visit to the Great Salt Lake where everyone swam in the water but I cried because it stung my mosquito bitten legs. Then there was the Space Needle and finally the actual Fair and I have no recollection of any of it.

After that lovely adventure my parents apparently gave up the traveling bug and our vacations consisted of visiting relatives in Tulsa, which was fine with me because my Aunt Lucille (red hair, red nails and large bosoms) lived there and I adored her. I remember those vacations very well.

Jack’s parents were much more adventurous. A trip or two to Florida and short trips to the Howard Johnson’s holidome in Springfield. I even got to go on one of their excursions before we were married.

Gotta love a hot tub with the inlaws.

Jack and I as newlyweds traveled to Tulsa also…. visiting both family and high school friends. Fun times for sure. The biggest highlight though…..was Jack and Chad’s determination to travel to Daytona to the Aku Tiki Inn….. supposedly because they had gone on their senior trip there and thought it was a great idea. My mother had died that February and I needed some happy for sure. I was doing graduate work that summer and skipped an entire week of educational statistics to go. My professor wasn’t thrilled but I told him I didn’t have to get an “A”, I just needed a vacation…. (and we wonder where Carter gets it) so I went on the trip, managed to get a “B” and just to be clear….I was never asked in an interview why, because nobody cared. We had a fabulous time and still tell stories about it today.

Once Jack and I had kiddos we made great trips to the beach, first with James and Ruth McCauley and eventually the Thayer Bobcat posse. I squeezed a few San Antonio trips out of Jack and was lucky enough to travel with my job, get my city fix, and Jack didn’t have to go, ha

The famous quote from Jack’s precious Uncle Richard was “son, it’s $500 to leave the city limits)….. which if you think about it is true,ha

Our family Joke was that Travis and Reba took the boys to Six Flags every summer and we just told them it was Disney World, ha. Cruel, I know.

But today? Travel is expected. The beach is more crowded than ever and Disney World is a requirement for every young family.

I am indeed fortunate to travel vicariously through the pics my friends posts! Truth be known, my ability to travel is limited by my dang hip and now knees, so I stay pretty close to home. At least that’s my excuse.

As I thought about travel this afternoon I wondered why I’m so content to be home…..especially after COVID kept us locked down for so long.

Here’s the answer kids.

I have, during the last 25 years, made over 200 trips to Houston to MD Anderson. Both flying and driving, with and without Jack. One of those trips lasted 3 months. The others have been at three or six month intervals…it’s been a lot. And we’re still going.

And each time we pull back in our driveway I first thank God for safe travel and then I breathe a sigh of relief to be home.

You see home is our sanctuary. We built our home 33 years ago and it’s filled with memories galore and lots and lots of love

We’ve raised our boys here and now our grands. I go overboard about flowers and indoor upkeep and Jack is wonderful to plant anything, anywhere. Our neighbors tease him about the upkeep of the lawn… it’s his therapy and it’s lovely. We revel in holidays and dinners with friends and just being home….coffee or wine in hand.

So…. friends (and family)….keep traveling! Keep sending and posting those lovely pics and stories of your adventures! I love them! I’ll be here on the patio in my wicker rocker, watching the birds, commenting on my flowers, and traveling along with you!