Heart Wrench

Hidden in the excitement of our adventure are our misgivings about being away from our much-loved kids.  Wrapped up in the desire to travel is the unburdening of our responsibilities.  No more cleaning gutters, mowing lawns, that kind of stuff.   But there's the emotional flip side of unburdening.  The heart wrench of seeing Brad and Yessi get smaller and smaller in our rearview mirror.  

Benton, Brad & Yessi, Saratoga Woods

On past cross-country road trips, I'd entertain myself by ruminating about covered wagon days.  As the speed-blurred road stretched out endlessly, I'd conjure up how it would feel to receive a letter once a month, or worse, once a year, or perhaps never, as was often the case. Pioneer lives unfolded -- births, diseases, marriages, deaths -- as the gruelingly difficult miles stretched out across the plains.  These families, the ones on the road, and the ones left behind, wondered and worried, sometimes never knowing the fate of their loved ones.

Benton, Brad & Yessi, Langley

As  modern travelers, we are rich with stay-in-touch-options -- frequent conversations,  sharing photographs, and even sending or receiving money.  We can connect with one another in ways our ancestors couldn't have imagined.   None of this is as good as a real hug, but it's darn good!   

Yessi & Brad hiking - Mt. Rainier

As departure draws near, I'm feeling a cluster of emotions gathering, ready to spill and overflow, from both the sadness of leaving and the eagerness of what's down the road.

~~~

"Love is a wonderful thing. You never have to take it away from one person to give it to another. There's always more than enough to go around."

~ Pamela de Roy