Gift of Travel

My sister-in-law recently came for a visit and brought her 4 year old granddaughter along. A big trip like this had its challenges for both of them, especially considering they drove over 6 hours to get here. It caused me to reflect on how much I gained from all the road trips my family took over a childhood of summers. Of course, I didn't think of it at the time, but it gave me many advantages. Learning to get along in a car for long drives, getting out of town, seeing all the sights of places new to me, trying new things, stopping to eat and select what I wanted, staying overnight in unfamiliar circumstances, living out of a suitcase, staying busy in the car, and the luxury of uninterrupted conversations. As an adult, I LOVE to travel. Maybe this is where it began -- family driving trips over summer vacation. Quite a gift my parents gave me! Perhaps they never saw it that way.