I do not entirely agree with this quote. There is a lot to be said for reading which opens many worlds. Additionally, today with television and the internet, we have access to people, places, ideas and experiences all over the world and beyond. We can experience a great deal without leaving home.
I never expected to travel. Life is full of surprises.
When my son, David's mission came to an end, my children surprised me with plane tickets to go back to Virginia, spend two weeks with him in his mission AND VISIT WASHINGTON, D.C.!, and fly home together. It was amazing. I love this country and I thought it was just a dream that someday I would visit our nation's capital. And I loved Washington DC. I also loved meeting some of the people he met on his mission, especially people he taught who loved him for bringing them the gospel and changing their lives.
While living in Massachusetts, Ryan and Sariah paid for us to fly out to visit them. New England is beautiful. We visited Acadia National Park which shares a name with my oldest (also beautiful) granddaughter. We visited Minute Man National Park (the children pretended to be American patriots hunkered down behind the very stone walls the Minute Men hid behind fighting the Redcoats) and Boston. Fantastic! Loved Boston and could have spent a lot more time there!
I have felt so blessed to have these experiences and to see places I have dreamed about.
But, wait! There's more!
My daughter. Sariah, has invited me to go to Disney World with her right after Thanksgiving 2013. I am thrilled and excited! She is paying the brunt of the costs, or otherwise I could not go. We have also invited her sisters, but they would have to pay their own way and it is hard to say whether they will make it.
Still more!
My aunt Robin, who truly has become a world traveler in recent years, invited me to take a trip with her, probably in the summer of 2013. At first, I hesitated to accept so huge a gift, but her offer was sincere and very tempting, so I am going to Europe. I am going to Europe!! I am stunned. After her tour group comes out with their 2013 plans, she will make the first selection for me to choose from. Is it not amazing?!
I am excited at these exciting travel prospects I could never afford on my own (unless Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes comes through), but even more I am deeply touched that people (very special people) love me so much that they would ask me to spend that special (and expensive) time with them.
I don't have much money, but I am pretty rich.
