How Far Would You Travel?

Yesterday Bill and I drove to Weston WI for lunch. That is 180 miles from our house or as Wisconsinites like to say, it’s 2 hours and 40 minutes. We’re known for giving distance in time rather than miles.

Our oldest granddaughter, Savannah, was throwing a surprise birthday lunch for her husband Nick. Just so you don’t think we’re the only ones off of our rocker, Nick’s parents came as did Nick’s Aunt and Uncle. They drove slightly further than we did. Savannah’s parents were also there, and they drove just a little less than we did. Some of the members of this group were staying overnight and others, like us, were heading home after lunch.

It was the first day of fall, the skies were blue, and the temperature was about 80 degrees. The ride wasn’t all highway driving…there were some county roads also. Seeing a few farms that remain in Wisconsin that dot the landscape was nice. Trees were turning, the last of the unharvested corn was still standing, and some wildlife was taking advantage of empty fields, rivers and creeks.

This isn’t the first time I’ve driven a long distance only to return home the same day. One time there was a daytime party in northern Wisconsin and I attended. That was a 5 hour drive each way. I stayed 2 hours and went home. It was important to me at the time to be there.

Several years ago my son that lives in Miami was going to be in Chicago on a business trip. He asked if I would be interested in meeting him for dinner. I wouldn’t pass up that opportunity for anything.

I left work early, drove to the Intermodal station to catch the train to Chicago, grabbed an Uber at the station in Chicago, and met my son at a restaurant. It was beautiful. He chose a restaurant that was near the top of a skyscraper, and the view of Lake Michigan and the harbor from our window-side table that was breathtaking. We chatted for a couple of hours, had a great dinner, and then I had to head home.

When I got to the train station in Chicago, I saw that my return trip was delayed. Not much you can do about that. Finally headed home about two hours later and by the time I got home it was after midnight. This was a Tuesday night and I had to get up for work at 5am.

Would I do it again? In a heartbeat.

When I told several people at work about the trip to Chicago, they thought I was crazy. I told my mom about it also and she actually said I was nuts. I disagree.

What if…WHAT IF…I hadn’t traveled to each of the destinations I mentioned above and something would have happened to the person or people I was going to see? I would have never forgiven myself for not taking a few hours…or even a day…out of my schedule to see loved ones.

Daily we read, hear, or see something about someone’s loved one passing away, and the survivors telling anyone who will listen to always say ‘I Love You’ each time you say goodbye at the end of a phone call or part ways with a loved one.

Sometimes it’s not possible to take these trips due to time, other commitments, or cost. As long as I am able I will continue to take advantage of seeing a loved one if a short trip is involved.

So how far would you travel? Think about it…