Space Goddess » Chile

One more good-bye

admin — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:54:21 +0000

“Good-bye, I love you”—how many times have I said those words and why are they bittersweet? When Josh began 4^th grade, we walked into the school together (that wouldn’t last long-that mother-son walking into school together thing—geez, Mom!), found his new classroom and we hugged. “Good-bye, I love you!” I said and slowly walked away. That was a fun “gbily” –my first time as Josh’s mom to escort him to his first day of a new school year.

The previous May Josh and Lauren’s dad, Michael, and I married—on May 24, 1998 to be exact! They had recently lost their wife/mother, Lana, to metastasized breast cancer. Several years before that I experienced the sudden loss of my only child, my son David, at the age of 2. So, as Josh aptly described the union, “God put us together. We needed a wife and a mom and you needed a husband and a son.” Lauren was the “gift with purchase”, the daughter I never had, and with whom I have laughed, cried, argued, celebrated, distanced, drawn together, distanced again and today we are both finding our way to acceptance and love.

So, back to “gbily”— my next memory of a poignant “Good-bye, I love you” was when Michael, Josh and I drove to Camp Chi in Wisconsin, Josh’s first adventure to be away from home, from us (How will he survive? How will we survive? Quite well, on all counts, as it turned out!). I remember the fragrant towering pine trees and giving Josh the biggest hug I could muster (Come on, Mom, this is embarrassing!), offered the standard “gbily”, turning and walking down the road towards our car with tears streaming down my face.

Another choked up “gbily” was when I took Josh to middle school—this growing up thing is going way too fast! Add a dash of “gbilys” on those occasions that we traveled abroad and weren’t able to include Josh on those journeys (poor kid has only been to more places than most adults have ever experienced—including but not limited to Hawaii, Alaska, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, France, England, Kenya, the Galapagos, Ecuador, Argentina, Chile, Tanzania, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and countless United States!). When Josh was 16, he and Michael climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. As they unloaded their duffel bags at the airport, I hugged them both and said, “Please be safe! Good-bye, I love you” with a major lump in my throat. The good news was that Lauren and I were going to Kenya a week later to meet our intrepid climbers and go on a family safari (As an aside, Africa is my favorite continent and we’re headed back there in September!). There were two more “gbilys” of note during high school: the first was when Josh drove by himself after having received his driver’s license (Please God, keep him safe and thanks Dateline NBC for airing the scary segment on teen driving that very same evening—oy!); the second was when Josh, along with 37 other Kansas City Jewish teens, participated in The March of The Living, which visited the very real and very sobering death camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau followed by a week of celebration in Israel.

It seems there have been a flood of “gbilys” in the past couple of yea or maybe, just maybe, they seem so poignant because they are so recent (like, how about today????). Two years ago Michael and I took Josh to the University of Arizona—“Good-bye, we love you!” we said as we boarded the plane to fly to Vegas to attend Virtuoso’s annual Travel Mart (a very important and exhausting travel industry event we’ve participated in for the past 14 years). The next “gbilys” ran together—Josh’s transferring to KU (only 45 minutes from home—maybe we’ll see Josh more often—oh wrong-o, Mom who doesn’t want to let go!), the abbreviated summer after Freshman year (“Hey, Mom and Dad, I’m moving out the beginning of August into an apartment near campus!”), the Thanksgiving dinner (“I’m staying in Lawrence. What time should I be home for Thanksgiving dinner?”), the Winter Break (break from school AND break from coming home other than a couple of short visits! Come on, Mom, lay off the guilt!), the new and very special relationship with Desi, and Josh and Desi giving birth to their son, Tristan, on July 2^nd.

Some things are as they should be. How many times have I heard the saying, “We teach them to walk and we teach them to walk away?” Oh, please, can you say “Vomit?” Haven’t you read my script, Universe? Don’t you know that Josh was supposed to be our Peter Pan, our “I won’t grow up” kid? And why, this spewing of my feelings today, you ask? A couple of hours ago Michael and Josh loaded Josh’s bed and chest of drawers into a U-Haul truck to move to the new duplex Josh, Desi and Tristan will call home for the next year. He took his bed!!!!!!!!! He took the photos of Lana he kept next to the bed!!!!!!!!!! Where will Josh sleep when he comes home? And, that is the cause of the angst—he won’t be coming home…

I could have ended with a dramatic flourish but I assure you that this moment of pain, of self-pity, is in fact, just a moment. In my heart I know I will have many more life experiences with our son, Desi, our grandson, our daughter ( who now lives in Hawaii but is coming home to visit in September!) and her friends, our travels, our friends, our newest business venture (TBA in a couple of months)…but, God, could you just give me a little sneak preview?

Posted via email from Travelingking

“Swell” tips for long distance flights

admin — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:47:56 +0000

Do you believe in coincidence? I don’t and that is better left for another post. Just wanted you to see what Dave Herbert, Founder and Managing Director of African Travels, says about feet and flying (You did read my previous post, correct????) His other tips are good ones, too!

By Dave Herbert, CTC,
Founder & Managing Director

WHEN FLYING TO AFRICA:
• DO wear warm socks and comfortable shoes on the airplane. Feet can swell up during the flight and tight shoes may no longer fit when you land!

• DO take (at least) an extra set of underwear on the plane. In case your luggage is lost or delayed.

• DO double-check your seat assignment when you arrive at the airport. Last minute airplane equipment changes can result in unexpected changes to your reserved seat assignments.

• DO take on board a small bag that you can take out of your carry-on and store in the seat pocket or under your seat. Keep flight essentials in this such as reading book, toothbrush, tissues, medication, gum etc. Then you don’t need to access the overhead bin during the flight.

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Posted via email from Travelingking

If you are traveling outside the US…

admin — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:13:14 +0000

New US Passport Laws go into effect June 1, 2009!

http://ow.ly/9GyA

In Honor of Earth Day…a cartoon!

admin — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:54:47 +0000

admin — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:22:54 +0000

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Off to see penguins!

admin — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:15:02 +0000

Okay, this time I am taking NO chances. Tuesday we’ll arrive in Santiago, Chile on our way to experience Lindblad’s Antarctica aboard the new National Geographic Explorer. We are supposed to have Internet connectivity; however, after the fiasco in China, I’m not too sure I’ll be able to connect to my blog (Mr. Blog Host, have you fixed the problem, yet????). So, in case I can’t blog in real time, here’s our itinerary:

December 9 – 10 — Santiago/Grand HyattWe arrive in Santiago this morning. With the soaring Andes as a backdrop, Santiago makes a spectacular and welcoming first impression — as does our hotel, the Hyatt Santiago, located in a gracious residential neighborhood. In the afternoon, we have a panoramic overview of the city including a visit to the Pre-Columbian Museum. Return to the Hyatt for a relaxing dinner. December 11 — Fly from Santiago to Ushuaia, Argentina/Embark ShipThe morning’s LAN Chile charter flight offers some rare views as we fly over the vividly rugged terrain of Patagonia before landing in Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world. We’ll have lunch during a catamaran cruise of the scenic Beage Channel before embarking National Geographic Explorer.December 12 — At Sea

We awake this morning well into our journey across the Drake Passage. Lying between Cape Horn and the Antarctic Peninsula, the Drake holds a unique place in maritime lore. Sometimes misty and gray, other times calm and clear, crossing the legendary Drake Passage is unforgettable – a milestone in any adventurer’s personal travel history.

December 13 — Antarctica

Our first landfall is at one of the many islands of the Antarctic Peninsula region, taking hikes and Zodiac forays with our Naturalists.

December 14 – 19 — Antarctica

Days 6-11 – With nearly 24 hours of daylight at this time of year, we make the most of our six days exploring the Antarctic Peninsula and its surrounding islands. Out there, our ship will freely roam. Our expedition team is a veteran one, and their expert knowledge of Antarctica’s waters enables us to take advantage of the unexpected. We’ll be out daily – experiencing Antarctica with all our senses as we walk, cruise in Zodiacs, and paddle kayaks through berg fields, hearing the Antarctic seltzer (gases escaping from dissolving icebergs) around us, the cries of the penguins, and the huge, nurturing silence of this perfectly pristine place. We may sail through the incomparable Lemaire Channel, known as Iceberg Alley, where a hush falls over onlookers as bergs of beauty and scale drift by. We’ll learn to identify penguins, paddle kayaks through berg fields and land with Zodiacs on the “White Continent.”

December 20 – 21— At Sea

As we sail back to Ushuaia, an albatross or two may join the avian escort of seabirds that cross our bow. There’ll be plenty of time to enjoy a wellness treatment, log some time in the gym, or catch up on the book you haven’t had a minute to read.

December 22 — Ushuaia/Disembark/Santiago

After breakfast, we disembark in Ushuaia with some time to explore before proceeding to the airport for our LAN Chile charter flight to Santiago, and an overnight flight to Miami.

Make this New Year’s Resolution…

admin — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:38:32 +0000

Apply for a Passport or review the one you have. Now wasn’t that a great, simple resolution? No food to weigh, clutter to organize, or daily aerobic exercize!

You may recall the fiasco that ensued when people suddenly realized they needed to have a passport to travel to destinations that previously only required a certified birth certificate, etc. Our Senators and Representatives even had appointed staff members whose sole function was to assist you in expediting your passport application through the issuance process. Next, Congress delayed the implementation date of the new law requiring valid US Passports for travel in the Western Hemisphere by auto or ship. Anyone traveling by air has needed a passport for quite some time.

Now Congress and the Department of Homeland Security are at it again. The latter wants the law implemented some time this summer while the former slipped some verbiage into an omnibus spending bill requesting the law not go into effect until June, 2009. Now, add in the reaction of the countries/islands you are planning to visit and you get total confusion. Many small Caribbean countries are unaware of the proposed delays and are currently requiring travelers to carry a valid US Passport. In short, you can get several different “opinions” on whether you’ll need a passport for your travel and the catch is that this is not a multiple choice test.

I can assure you from experience that within the US and in countries abroad I’ve received different answers to what seemed to be simple questions. For example, when flying internationally, how many carryon bags can a person bring? Oh, and what constitutes a carryon bag? Since the suspected bomb assembly scare occurred in London, the Brits have banned travelers from carrying more than one “carryon” (Is a purse a carryon? It depends on the agent checking you through security, the agent checking your boarding pass, etc). Now we are allowed to carry 2 bags in Great Britain. The problem is that sometimes these changes in law don’t filter to the “Powers that be” at airports who actually can keep you from boarding a plane.

I’ve heard people explain that they aren’t planning to leave the US in the foreseeable future. If I could accurately foresee the future, I’d pick next Saturday’s Powerball numbers and retire! Why wait until you’re ready for a vacation outside the US, then find that you need a passport and because of the beaurocratic nightmare of the passport process, you won’t be able to secure one?

Other things to consider for those of you smugly gloating because you already have a passport: When does your passport expire? Most countries require you to carry a passport that is valid for AT LEAST six months after your travel dates. How many blank pages do you have in your passport? Many countries require Visas and that you present a certain number of BLANK Visa pages in your passport.

So, do yourself a favor—get a Passport or renew your Passport today!

Let’s celebrate! It’s December 23rd!

Goddess — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 18:36:55 +0000

I am filled with gratitude today! I am sitting on my bed with my two dogs blanketing me as I gaze outside at a winter wonderland—you know, one of those scenes where the sun’s rays bounce off the freshly fallen snow. I have so much goodness and love in my life and have been blessed with so many varied and rich experiences. I’ve met brothers and sisters around the world (in Ravello, Stratford on Avon, Jerusalem, Raiataia, Helsinki, Cairns, St. Petersburg, Agra, Valparaiso, Luxor, Fernandina, Kuala Lumpur, the Great Barrier Reef, Whistler, Shanghai, Cusco, Kansas City, Ushuaia, and Anguilla—to name a few) who have taught me the meaning of words such as grace, hope, and love. Some have taught me about gluttony, greed; about apathy, disdain; about war, AIDS, and death. All have left an imprint on my soul that have led to the joy I have today. You see, I am a member of the Lucky Sperm Club! I had no control over choosing my parents, my homeland, and the abundance of food, healthcare, and education. It is not enough for me to “feel” grateful because I’ve learned that my feelings are not facts! Today I know that gratitude is an action word. How can I do “gratitude?” To give daily—time, hugs, a phone call, money, stuff—is my way to thank God for all the incredible gifts I have received. Some days I am more miserly than others and I discover I’ve slipped back into the world of ME. That is okay today because I am, day by day, becoming a better Giver and less of a Taker. Many days I treasure the fact that the journey is the destination. Becoming a member of the Lucky Sperm Club was a gift—as simple as that—a gift that has taken me years to unwrap and treasure.

Going, going, gone!

admin — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 01:42:03 +0000

On Sunday, September 16th we’ll celebrate Great Getaways’ 15th anniversary at an Out-of-This-World Bash at ARTichokes, 10557 Mission Road. In addition to delicious food, fine wine, award-winning musicians, you’ll meet Carolyn Wincer of London, England, Director of Astronaut Sales for Virgin Galactic; Dean Johnson, Executive Vice President of Creative Leisure International, purveyor of luxe vacations; and Cathy Larson, Director of Sales for Holland America Line. Also, be sure and say hello to Heidi Denecke, winging her way to join us from the Ritz Carlton Kapalua, Maui; Susan Huston, Director of Sales for Crystal Cruises, and Becky Powell, Business Development Manager for Virtuoso.

We invite you to preview our items that will be available at our Silent Auction to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. We hope you’ll bid on items to create wonderful memories for you and hope for those whose memories have been erased and lives forever altered! Click below on “Let us tempt you”
LET US TEMPT YOU!

Where Imagination meets Imaginaction!

Goddess — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 00:58:52 +0000

Greetings from Las Vegas! No, this is not some cheap postcard sent to you by Aunt Tilly and Uncle Gus on their annual Senior Citizen trip to Vegas!

I am here attending Virtuoso’s Annual Travel Mart, a conference of travel consultants and vendors, where we share trends, ideas, new products, and ways to help your dreams become reality. This is an intense week—Great Getaways has 774 one-on-one appointments with execs from cruise lines, tour companies, hotels, resorts, and, of course, space travel (Go Virgin Galactic!!!) over a period of 4 days. Every 4 minutes from 8:00 AM through 4:00 PM we have a 4 minute meeting with a vendor. It’s like speed dating on steroids—resulting in the mating of wonderful vacation ideas with you, our client!

Yesterday we had 2 keynote speakers, Dewitt and Terry Jones, the former a photographer for National Geographic and the latter, his brother, the founder of Travelocity. What an amazing combination of talent!!! In fact, they spent a significant amount of time talking about turning imagination into “imaginaction”. Have they been reading Great Getaways tagline or what??? You don’t remember our tagline? Okay, one more time, then of to bed to dream of wonderful vacations— our tagline is “Imagine…Create…Experience!” Sweet Dreams from the Bellagio! Ciao!