Yes, I am making a return trip to
Israel. Departure day is October
12. Although I have visited this
area before, it is so full of Biblical history that I learn more and more with
each visit. My Bible is displayed
in such technicolor at this point that I need to put on my sunglasses to read
it! (Former travelers to Israel will
understand that comment.) This
visit will be different, as I will be making this trip without my
soul-mate. Olen and I had no plans
to travel this year due to family responsibilities, but very close to the
deadline to sign up for the Israel trip, we had a change of mind. Since he
can’t go this year, Olen is sending me on this trip by myself. There is a story behind this decision,
and it begins with “Once upon a time…”
My father, Odelle, had a college
roommate named Herbert. Herbert
met and married Odelle’s sister, Evelyn.
Daddy eventually married my mother, Dot. Herbert and Evelyn had one child, a son, named Dan. My parents had one child, a daughter,
named Jane (me!). Dan grew up in
Tennessee. I grew up in Florida,
and we saw each other very briefly only once a year. About 65+ years ago, one of our parents thought it would be
a “wonderful” idea for the two families to spend a week together each summer at
Daytona Beach so the adults could relax and visit, and so Dan and I could “get
to know each other better”.
Well, there was absolutely no
relaxing going on during these beach trips, but Dan and I did “get to know each
other better”. We just did not get
to know each other as they thought we might, and the beach trips turned out to
be a total disaster. (Who thought
it would be a good idea for two couples with “only children” to share a tiny
apartment on the beach for an entire week?!) Neither Dan nor I had the benefit of a sibling to disagree
with prior to this experience, so we used the week at the beach as a crash
course in dealing with a pseudo-sibling.
The conflicts were loud…and often…and over even the smallest decision. The disputes involved major events such
as to what to eat…where to eat…who sat in what chair…when to swim…who got the
biggest cookie…you name it and we argued about it. On one occasion I managed to construct a weapon out of
rolled-up newspaper and beat Dan over the head as many times as possible before
the four adults were able to restrain me.
As adults, Dan and I have never
spent much quality time together…most of our adult time has been at funerals
and settling estates…not happy occasions.
In the early summer this year, Dan decided to travel to Israel. His wife, Margaret, had visited Israel before
she and Dan married. Since Margaret
had surgery earlier this year, she did not feel like she was up to making the
trip at this time, and insisted that Dan go on this trip alone. When Olen heard of Dan’s decision, he
suggested that I go on this trip, partly because he knew how much I would like
to go, and partly because he thought
it might be interesting to see if two seventy-something-year-old cousins could
spend twelve days together without a serious incident.
This could be an
interesting trip as Dan and I try to blend in with the other 23 people on the
tour. I have noticed that seven
states will be represented on the tour: Alabama, Florida, Texas, New Mexico,
North Carolina, Missouri, and Tennessee.
In addition, one traveler is from South Africa. Our group consists of
married couples, single men and women (or men and women travelling without
their spouse), a daughter-in-law/mother-in-law duo, two brothers-in-law, and of
course two elderly cousins who have a 65+-year-old history of conflict.
Names may not be
as important on this trip. For a
group of 25, it is interesting to note that there will be two who answer to the
name, “Paul”, two who answer to the name, “Adam”, two who answer to the name, “Joyce”, and two who
answer to the name “Garry” (spelled with two R’s!). It might be easier for the tour guide to just number us! It sounds like an interesting group!
So, you might
choose to follow this blog because you know of someone who is on the tour, and
you want to keep up with him or her.
You might choose to follow us to view the pictures and information we
post. Or, you might choose to
follow the blog to find out (as Paul Harvey used to put it) “the rest of the
story” on the elderly cousins.
Regardless of your motive, you are welcome to follow this blog.
I am packing
extra rolled-up newspapers in my suitcase…just in case.
Dan and Jane (circa 1953)
