Happy New Year!
We are just a few days into a brand new year. For most, the often hectic pace of the holiday season has pretty much settled back into normal routine. The decorations are put away, the turkey and holiday treats are gone from the fridge and the temptation!
We are just a few days into a brand new year. For most, the often hectic pace of the holiday season has pretty much settled back into normal routine. The decorations are put away, the turkey and holiday treats are gone from the fridge and the temptation!
Some have made resolutions - and a percentage have
already broken them!
I used to make resolutions when I was younger, but I just
never seemed to be able to follow through on most of them. The resolutions were
made more out of good intentions rather than true desire to make changes.
I don't make resolutions anymore. Not that I am perfect!
Not by any means am I perfect, I just choose to live every day as a gift and be
the best person I can be.
As I grow older, I find it harder to make changes. I get
used to doing things in certain ways. I make minor adjustments when I have to,
but even those can sometimes be a challenge.
Yup, I am slowly turning into one of those "set in
their ways" folks! Not that I'm really THAT old as I am only 55 - I'm just
comfortable in my routine!
However, this year there will be a change!
This year is different. I will have an adventure.
I am about to go on my first ever winter trip!
Aside from a few medical related trips in the 1990's to
Toronto and Calgary - for various eye treatments, I've never really had much of
an opportunity to travel more than a couple hour's drive from my home. Okay,
there were a handful of trips in my late teens and twenties to Alberta,
Southern Ontario and Colorado - but those seem like a lifetime ago!
It has been just over 13 years since I've been on a plane
and 30 years since I've crossed the border from Canada into the USA.
It's not that I never wanted to travel. There are lots of
places that I'd love to visit. Lots of things I'd like to experience and places
to explore. I've just never had the extra resources to make any of those
journeys.
Now before, you go jumping to conclusions, this probably
wouldn't qualify as an adventure to anyone who has done some traveling. I won't
be going hang gliding or swimming with sharks or white water rafting! Nope
nothing that outrageous. Well, outrageous for me anyways! Besides, I don't want
to have to make use of the medical insurance I bought!
Nope, I am just headed south - out of our "Winterpeg"
cold and snow for a few days! A few days of snow free, warm temperatures. It
will be a shock to my system but I am prepared to make that sacrifice!
How did all this come about?
As a Christmas present, I received a trip to fly down and
stay with my amazing, beyond generous, familial snowbirds for a week at their
winter home in Arizona!
The idea of the trip first came up last September. To say
I was shocked and overwhelmed is a bit of an understatement! It just never
occurred to me that I would ever have the resources to take a trip given my
limited finances and visual limitations! I didn't want to jinx my good fortune
so I didn't tell too many people about it - in case it didn't work out. There
was a lot to figure out and organize before any trip could happen.
But, it has all worked out. I applied for, and received
my first ever passport. Some of my awesome friends contributed to my "new
luggage" fund rather than buying me individual Christmas presents. I
looked in quite a few stores and on several web sites to find the right luggage
for me - and finally settled on a model by Samsonite from Bentley's online
site. It arrived a few days ago.
The flight is booked. I've made a list of things to pack.
I've made a list of things I'd like to shop for while I am in the states. I'm
slowly crossing things off of the "to do" list before I go.
To be honest, I'm not looking forward to going through
security as so much has changed since I last flew. I've been reading the do's
and don'ts on the Canadian and US government and travel web sites. I've been
talking to my more seasoned traveling friends for tips and advice. Hopefully it
will all go well - both going and returning home.
All in all, I think I've pretty much got it all sorted
out. I just have to pack and get to the airport.
It has been an adventure just getting to this point, but
I know that once I get on that plane, that will be when the real adventure
begins!
dn
1 comment:
wishing you all the best on your trip, dn. did you know that joan was there recently visiting family? what airline are you going on? just a little tip for security ~ we travelled recently on a/c and everyone had to take their shoes off to go through, so wear slip on shoes (and socks) if you can.
can hardly wait to hear all about it. enjoy ~ you deserve it. xx
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