I love to travel. Both my parents enjoyed traveling when we were growing up (at least I guess they did - we took lots of vacations and have a friend that played professional ball and I remember going tons of fun places to watch him play) and Mom traveled extensively with her second husband as well - even up to the end after he was diagnosed with a glioblastoma - and they did so quite a bit with a group from their area on trips sponsored by their bank. They made wonderful friendships and were a part of a small group called the "Back of the Bus Bunch".
So I guess I come by honestly.
Since Dicky has passed, I often get to be Mom's roommate now on her adventures and I have enjoyed meeting and spending time with these same great people. When Billy and I travel I am usually the driver so on these bus trips it is kind of nice to be able to just look at the scenery and let someone else figure out where to turn.
The last couple of years, I have been touting Natchez as the perfect destination for some of the bank's smaller, getaway, trips. This year, they took me up on it.
Last Thursday I was able to spend most of the day with my Mom and her group from Arkansas. I saw old friends, made new friends, had a lot of fun sharing my Natchez with them. Since it was a work day for me, I missed the first house and downtown tour, but met up with them at the second home and stayed for lunch and the winery tour. I was back in my office for a few hours late in the afternoon while they all got checked into the hotel and freshened before dinner. I was telling a co-worker about the day and his comment was how nice it was that I took the time to do that. In my mind, I don't think I ever considered not doing it.
A friend of mine also spent that day with her mother, but, sadly as I discovered the next morning, it was her mom's final day. Her mom had been in less than perfect health for a while so it wasn't a huge surprise, yet never easy. But I was struck by the differences in our days. Where I got to laugh and joke and have a good time, they spent the day trying to get family flown in and do all they could in those final moments together.
And I believe they were very good final moments - tears, yes, but peaceful. My friend had taken the time to be at her mother's side not only during the last few months, but any opportunity she had to visit her.
Take the time.
None of us know exactly when our final day will be, but only you can determine how you want to spend it when it gets here - regrets, problems, making amends, or enjoying those last precious few seconds.
