Where in the World are Mom and Dad?

When I was a kid I had a computer game called Where in the USA is Carmen SanDiego. It was a companion to the popular game Where in the World is Carmen SanDiego. The general premise was that you had to track down Carmen by following different clues. (“She said she was going to Vermont’s capital.” “She wanted to visit the gem state.”) It was a not especially subtle way of teaching kids geography lessons.

We like to joke that my parents have taken up Carmen’s mantle, and we play the game of Where in the World are Mom and Dad? My parents love to travel and seem to be always on the go. It really is difficult to keep track of where they are on any given week. Sometimes I get exhausted just reading their Facebook posts

Last week was no exception. I think at the start of the week they were in Georgia followed by stops in Virginia and Delaware. By the middle of the week they were in New Jersey, and Ron and I enjoyed a nice get-together with them. They were excited to have some pizza with us for dinner because now that they are retired and living in Florida they complain that they can’t get good pizza near them. They also brought us a bag of souvenirs from their travels. This batch included gifts from Mexico and Jamaica.

And where are they this week? Well, if I’ve followed the clues correctly I would say they are up visiting family in Maine, but before long I think they’ll be off to visit friends in New York State who live and run a bed and breakfast on the Upper Delaware.

We joke about my parents’ near-constant traveling, but I’m glad that they get to do something that brings them so much joy. Their current travel goal is to visit all seven continents, and plans are in place to make that goal a reality. So happy and safe travels, Mom and Dad and to any of you who are doing some traveling of your own this summer!

— Alissa