Trips

As we've been preparing to go to Guatemala these last few days, it's been very exciting. But at the same time, I haven't been able to shake the strange feeling that's accompanied the anticipation. It had me confused for quite a while, but I've recently realized where it's been coming from. Mom won't be going with us.

My life has been filled with lots of vacations. It's something that always leaves my siblings whining about how spoiled I am. Many trips came because of trainings that Dad had to go to for work. Mom and I would spend the day playing while Dad was in meetings. And then in the evening the three of us would find something to do together. Some trips were far enough away that we took a plane and played games on the way. Others were road trips, and Mom would always bring Harry Potter to read to us along the way. When Harry Potter was involved, I didn't mind riding in the car so much.
I will never forget the summer after 8th grade. We went on three fantastic trips: Mexico, Hawaii, and Washington DC. Mexico and Hawaii were exotic and lovely. We enjoyed the beauty and adventures we found in each location. But surprisingly, the most important time of that summer was spent in Washington DC. I didn't understand at the time how much those memories would come to mean to me.
Kids Are Music was going to Washington DC on tour. Mom and I decided to go! (Dad didn't come with. I don't remember why.) We had so much fun together! Dashing across the mall in the pouring rain from one Smithsonian to another, scrambling to eat lunch while walking quickly from the capitol building to the Holocaust Museum, holding hands as we walked the streets of the city. We probably spent more time in the art museum there than anywhere else. I think it was the first time I knew that my mom loved beautiful art. With Mom pointing out the detail and the beauty of the artwork, I quickly came to love it just as much as she did. Experiencing it together was wonderful. We even got a hand-held tour guide type device that would tell us about different pieces as we walked through.

In a time when I could easily have chosen to go off with my friends, I chose to stay with my mom. I think that speaks volumes about the relationship we had. She was, in many ways, my best friend. I felt safe and loved with her.
I am so grateful that we took the opportunity to go on so many trips while she was alive. We learned a lot about each other and about the world as we did so. And I learned so much from her as she took the opportunity to teach me something on each new adventure. I will miss her very much as Dad and I embark on a new adventure, but she will be in my heart the whole way. I so look forward to the adventures that I know we will have together in the next life. Love you Mom!

Summer

Summer was always my favorite season with Mom. It seemed it was a time meant just for us! If you know either of us well at all, you know that it's the only time we're warm. We both adore the sun and the green and the flowers. And the fresh fruit!
The days seemed lazy and laid back, and yet they were so very full. They started with the two of us walking over to the track for a jog at about the same time as the sun was rising. She was patient with my knee; I have a hard time running on hard surfaces. I was patient with her slower pace. We had a lot of good conversations during those early morning walk/jogs. And of course, we admired the sunrise. Because nothing of beauty ever escaped Mom's notice.
Then we'd head home for breakfast and to teach our piano lessons. Sometimes later in the morning, we'd grab racquets and balls and head to the tennis courts. I wasn't ever very good, but I did learn how to hit the ball to the side of the court that she wasn't on and enjoyed watching her run back and forth to return the balls I hit.
After that we generally went our separate directions as far as schedule went. But I relished in those mornings. They were full of such happiness and joy! What I wouldn't give to share just one more of those mornings with her!