Back in March, when my husband and I planned a Christmas trip to Ontario, we never imagined the Christmas travel challenges we’d face.
Like a lot of you, I’ve been in a whirlwind of cleaning, wrapping, cooking, baking, entertaining, and being entertained :). I’ve also been packing for a winter road trip back east to spend a rare Christmas with my family in Ontario. And also like a lot of you, rare is the morning when you wake up with a leisurely stretch and wonder how you’re going to fill your day. Especially this year. Leisure doesn’t even have a seat at the kiddie table.
Most years we parcel-up Christmas in boxes and mail them in early December. What a treat it’s been this year to pack with abandon, free of the usual worry of breakage, and the expense of excess weight. Being a writer with a new book out, I even included a few boxes of books. We bought new snow tires, cleaned the car inside and out, and loaded the bulkier items. All that was left to load were our suitcases.
Screeching Halt
And then our long awaited cross-country winter wonderland Christmas trek came to a screeching halt with a last-minute boot-cast (cave master, not me) and a scramble for airline tickets.
Happily, we found suitable flights, but I had to add re-packing to my to-do list, and sadly, some of the treasures we’d originally packed didn’t make the re-pack.
But on the bright side, we’ll still have a white Christmas with my family, and we’ll still be able to visit with friends along the way. For us, it’s the people who make Christmas special, and the rest of it though nice, is simply glitter on the tree. Not critical, nor necessary, and easily done without.
With that in mind, from our house to yours, all the best to you and yours this holiday season. Glitter or not, enjoy the special people in your life. I’ll see you next year …
I hope your husband is better soon (I know it takes a while). It’s always difficult to change plans at the last minute, but I’m trying my best to learn to be flexible…. Enjoy a white holiday and all the best to you and your family!
Flexible is something I’m working on too, Olga. I hope you have a relaxing holiday and get to recharge your batteries. Cheers!
Traveling by air is never that easy, I also always have worries how to pack everything. Well, you can only take that much as you can which is good because otherwise the packing would become endless. Merry Christmas, enjoy time with your family and prosperous, creative, abundant and healthy 2017 to you!
Thank you, Inese. All the best to you and yours as well.
I trust you and John will have a fine eastern Christmas, Jo-Anne.
If fine means cold and snowy, then yes! All the best to you and yours Bill.
I didn’t realize you ended up flying instead of driving. Hope John’s leg is better. Have a great time back east. Merry Christmas to you and yours (again :)) Can you hear me laughing? Looking forward to more great chats about our writing in the new year.
The flights were very last minute, as was the boot-cast, which will be on for another five weeks 🙁 Here’s to another terrific writing year!