From Campfires to Cruises (Part 3): Courage & Laughter

The camping trips from those early years still live in my family.

We still talk about them with smiles and laughter. That alone tells me they mattered.

Children may forget many things, but they remember how life felt. They remember when a parent made time and when they didn't. They remember the funny discomforts, the small disasters, the shared meals, the water, the people, and the joy.

I think back to that 1980 Toyota Corolla, packed so full that my children were wedged between our belongings, and I see more than a car.

I see determination.

I see a mother doing her best but remaining teachable.

I see two children being carried toward adventure.

I see proof that love can make even a cramped road trip feel rich.

Those vacations did not need to be perfect. In fact, the imperfect parts are some of the best parts now. The overpacked car, the campfire smoke, the learning curve on water skis, the long drives, the sandy clothes, the tired evenings, all of it became part of the story.

Adventure does not always look polished while it is happening. Sometimes it looks messy, crowded, smoky, wet, and loud.

Then years pass, and you realize it was beautiful.

Some memories stay bright because they were shared, repeated, and laughed about for years.

What a life of travel has given me

Travel has given me more than photographs and souvenirs.

It has given me a stronger bond with my children. It has given me confidence. It has given me spiritual moments in nature and sacred spaces. It has introduced me to people and cultures I never would have known from home.

It has also taught me that adventure can change shape as life changes.

When my children were young, adventure looked like camping gear crammed into a small car and meals cooked over a fire. Later, it looked like cruise ships, tours, old churches, archaeological sites, and recovery meetings in other parts of the world.

Now, it sometimes looks like boarding a ship on my own, knowing I am capable of enjoying my own company.

Each season gave me something different.

• Camping taught me simplicity.

• Lakes and streams taught me stillness.

• Water skiing taught us laughter.

• Cruising taught me openness.

• Tours taught me curiosity.

• Recovery meetings taught me connection.

• Solo travel taught me courage.

  
  

Together, those experiences shaped a life I am grateful for.

I know not everyone can take two paid weeks away. I know how hard it can be to save the time, the money, and the energy. I lived that reality for years.

But I also know this: when the chance comes, take it if you can.

Pack the car, even if it is too full. Sit by the water. Cook over the fire. Let the children get messy. Say yes to the trip that scares you a little. Walk into the old church. Visit the ruins. Attend the meeting. Speak to the stranger who may become a friend.

The years move quickly. The memories stay.

My journey began as a single mother trying to give her children something joyful after years of hard work. It grew into a lifelong love of water, nature, cruising, culture, faith, recovery, and connection.

From campfires to cruises, adventure has carried me through many chapters.

And every time I see a lake, a stream, or the wide open sea, I remember that life still has places to take me.