Take the trip

This September marks seven years since my Pop crossed over the rainbow bridge and my heart still breaks. He was only 63 when he passed away. I’m just thankful he and my Mom had kids when they were still teenagers so that I got a lot of good time with him.

One thing that is easier after 7 years is letting the memories surface, and now more often then not they bring a smile not a tear.
As I was walking through Costco looking for Tommy Bahama beach chairs one of these memories bubbled up into my mind. There are no beach chairs in Costco right now because the whole outdoor section in the huge store is full of Christmas decorations – in September …
Short story long as my friend Phil would say, back in December 2012, my parents were at their home in Puerto Morelos. They would usually come November or December and then more frequently after their granddaughter was born. It was during this trip when my daughter Isa, a then 7year-old born and raised in Puerto Morelos, stayed up way to late with her Grandparents watching Home Alone. That night it was still 80 degrees out and she was still in her swim suit on the couch between her Mimi and Pupa. And she asked her dear Pupa if it always snowed in New Hampshire on Christmas? I can just picture my Pop’s Mind shifting into high gear devising his plan.
“Munch,” That’s what my Dad called me, “Do you think Isa Is old enough to be away from you for a week to spend Christmas with us in New Hampshire?” Isa had never been away from me for more than an overnight at a friend’s house.
“Pop! Airfare is way too expensive to travel over Christmas I can’t let you do that, no absolutely not!”
“So you do think she’ll be OK away from you for a week?”
Within eight hours he had changed my Mom’s plane ticket to fly with Isa one way and bought Isa a plane ticket to spend Christmas in freezing cold New Hampshire…
This was a magical trip for Isa. In contrast to me and Isa’s Christmas’ in Puerto Morelos where I am busy with check-ins and hauling dirty laundry to get cleaned while Isa crashes with other vacationing guests at the pool and beach, Franconia NH was freezing cold and everyone was in the Holiday spirit. There was 24hour Christmas music and cousins, and candles in the windows!!! They had snow pants boots, wool hat, winter coat all waiting for her, but there was not any snow on the ground… Until Christmas morning. Isa woke up “in a a snow globe” she told me on the telephone! Plus a Christmas tree with presents and a stocking hung by the chimney and a fire burning. Isa was a Waldorf school kid, and I didn’t allow her to have any plastic toys, we didn’t have a television, no processed food, no consumerism etc. But our video call showed Isa opening up a plastic princess castle, television blaring in the background, Princess dress with tiara on, with a magic wand plus drinking a (gulp) juice box!
That was six months before my Daddy got the cancer diagnosis, and three years before he passed away.
That wonderful snowy Christmas memory would never have happened if my Pop had listened to me; that it was impractical and expensive to travel at that time of year.
But, my Pop would never have listened to me. He was always the dreamer, planner and the special memory maker.
Moral of the story: great memories never die. If you are trying to decide….take the trip!
We still have a few beachfront condos available and one-bedroom units 1 block from the beach available from December 17-January 2, 2023, ask me for a regular season rate;-)
Be well,
Cg