When asked, I recall our summer vacations through the years. Each one stands out for several reasons, and each is unique although there’s some overlap. Here are some highlights:

120-mile road trip to the mountains: riding in the back of the station wagon, singing “100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall” to pass the time. The seat faced the back window at the time.

Acapulco-another road trip. Who can imagine a road trip that far traveling through Mexico today. Most memorable incidents of which Acapulco—another road trip. Who can imagine a road trip that far, traveling through Mexico today? Most memorable incidents, of which there are many:

1. Staying in a sleazy motel in the middle of somewhere with cockroaches climbing the walls and cracks in the walls. We were too young to convince Dad to move to another motel.
2. In Acapulco, we stayed in a beautiful high-rise hotel overlooking the ocean. The view was incredible..
3. Swimming and rollicking in the ocean was fantastic. The water was incredibly warm and calm.
4. We don’t remember the drive home! I believe we slept the entire way. Mom and Dad took turns driving while we were spread out in the back seat.

The trip to Mazatlán was my first train ride. We traveled by train, and it was exciting and exhilarating! Standing between cars and looking out at the countryside. At the beach, I had my first drink ever. Dad said I should try a Grasshopper. I wasn’t of age, but that didn’t matter there. I believe it may have been nonalcoholic.

Once we had a child, the trips changed, but they were still coordinated by my parents, her grandparents. We took her to Disneyland, Disney World, and other major parks. We had vacationed in the mountains when I was young. After marrying, we lived in the mountains because her dad was a horseman. We owned and trained horses.

After she graduated and entered college, I traveled with my parents to Europe on a European Tour, a Caribbean Cruise to Cozumel, and the Yankee Tour in the United States. Each was memorable in its own way.

1. European Tour—the bus to Florence from France ran out of gas in a tunnel. Memorable experience. We waited hours outside of Switzerland for someone to solve the problem.
2. The Caribbean Cruise was memorable. It was my first and only cruise. I was there to help because Mom was using a walker by that time.
3. The Yankee Tour was a unique experience because I could use the information I gained through the educational experience in the classroom.

My travels of late have been to Texas. I became a long-distance caregiver upon retirement. Not exactly a vacation, but the flights back and forth were a respite for me.

When I arrived home after each flight, I received my hugs from my husband and my dogs, and the return flights met me with hugs from my parents. My travels are not over, but those I have stated are memorable for sure.