"Okay, I think I have our itinerary all figured out. We can fly to Frankfurt then to Warsaw, spend a few days there and then take a train to Prague. Yes, that will work," I say to my Mom with about 10 days to go until vacation.
"Okay," she says.
"Okay," I say.
And that's when I know, despite all the plans and research, something is definitely not okay. It is difficult to explain to people how Mom and I decide on a particular vacation destination. We do not have what one would call a very traditional (read as "normal") methodology for selecting a travel destination. Sometimes we detour to see the World's Largest Potato when other people would just stay on the interstate. Sometimes we detour because we see a sign that reads "Fussimanya" and we simply have to find out what a "Fussimanya" is (turns out it is both a beautiful town and an excellent restaurant in Spain). Sometimes we just get a feeling; something that speaks to both of us. We just hear a voice that lets us know to get excited because we are on the right track.
This time with the planned Eastern Europe trip, although we know we want to see this part of the world, the inner voices are ......silent.
This is many things but this is not "okay."
"Maybe we should head back to Micronesia. We loved Yap. We could explore some of the other islands out that way," I say sitting at the kitchen table waiting for that excited feeling. I start researching and planning for travel to that part of the world.
"How does this all sound, Mom? Maybe we can check out Palau and revisit Yap?"
"Okay. Sounds good," Mom says.
For some inexplicable reason, it's not okay. It's not good this time.
7 days and counting until vacation starts.
Maybe it is because we had such a perfect time from start to finish in May when we visited the United Kingdom, Scotland and the puffins of the Farne Islands. Maybe it is because just a few weeks prior, we took the car and headed north from New York City, ended up kayaking in the Hudson River off the shore of Beacon, New York. Maybe what we want is not to be found so far from home....
"Mom, how about a road trip?"
I think at last count I have been to 62 different countries. As for my Mom, I would have to recount the pins she has of the countries she has visited in her Map of the World. I know her total is just a little less than mine. Ask her and she can tell you the exact number. Yet we can not say we have truly explored the small towns, 2,000 lakes and majestic mountains of the Adirondack region of New York State.
When I was younger (yes, a million years ago when dinosaurs roamed the planet), Mom and I had visited Lake George. We took one of the scenic boat tours. Off in the distance was a building that seemed larger than life to me. A beautiful, stately Victorian building which is the Sagamore Hotel at Bolton Landing. The hotel actually sits on its own island in Lake George.Wow, when I grow up, I want to stay there.
Well, despite having a well-developed inner child personality, it is fair to say, I am about as grown up as I am going to ever be.
"Mom, how about a road trip....and lets stay at the Sagamore."
"Great!! Really? That sounds great," Mom says.
Great is so much better than okay.
We are excited. Suddenly we can not pack fast enough. The drive is fun. It is an Indian Summer kind of day. We arrive at Bolton Landing crossing the bridge over the Lake George waters which are sparkling just to welcome us. We drive up the long driveway and The Sagamore is still as regally impressive now as it was back in the day. Heck, my classic Mercedes looks good in front of this hotel. Everything about this feels way better than "okay."
Checking in was seamless. Mom starts walking toward the rear portico (because a place like the Sagamore has porticos not porches :) off the lobby because there is an absolutely stunning sunset view of Lake George through the glass multi-paned French doors.
"Mom, I need you to come here. Please come sign this. Right now."
"But I want to take pictures (when does my Mom not want to take photos?). I'm going to miss the sunset!! Can't I sign whatever later??!!" she says as she starts making her way toward....
"Surprise!!!!!!!"
"Happy Birthday!!!" says our friend Chip who drove all the way from Long Island to Lake George (a 6 hour drive easily) to surprise my Mom.
Now that's love and the perfect start to a vacation that is so much more than "okay."
"Okay," she says.
"Okay," I say.
And that's when I know, despite all the plans and research, something is definitely not okay. It is difficult to explain to people how Mom and I decide on a particular vacation destination. We do not have what one would call a very traditional (read as "normal") methodology for selecting a travel destination. Sometimes we detour to see the World's Largest Potato when other people would just stay on the interstate. Sometimes we detour because we see a sign that reads "Fussimanya" and we simply have to find out what a "Fussimanya" is (turns out it is both a beautiful town and an excellent restaurant in Spain). Sometimes we just get a feeling; something that speaks to both of us. We just hear a voice that lets us know to get excited because we are on the right track.
This time with the planned Eastern Europe trip, although we know we want to see this part of the world, the inner voices are ......silent.
This is many things but this is not "okay."
"Maybe we should head back to Micronesia. We loved Yap. We could explore some of the other islands out that way," I say sitting at the kitchen table waiting for that excited feeling. I start researching and planning for travel to that part of the world.
"How does this all sound, Mom? Maybe we can check out Palau and revisit Yap?"
"Okay. Sounds good," Mom says.
For some inexplicable reason, it's not okay. It's not good this time.
7 days and counting until vacation starts.
Maybe it is because we had such a perfect time from start to finish in May when we visited the United Kingdom, Scotland and the puffins of the Farne Islands. Maybe it is because just a few weeks prior, we took the car and headed north from New York City, ended up kayaking in the Hudson River off the shore of Beacon, New York. Maybe what we want is not to be found so far from home....
"Mom, how about a road trip?"
I think at last count I have been to 62 different countries. As for my Mom, I would have to recount the pins she has of the countries she has visited in her Map of the World. I know her total is just a little less than mine. Ask her and she can tell you the exact number. Yet we can not say we have truly explored the small towns, 2,000 lakes and majestic mountains of the Adirondack region of New York State.
When I was younger (yes, a million years ago when dinosaurs roamed the planet), Mom and I had visited Lake George. We took one of the scenic boat tours. Off in the distance was a building that seemed larger than life to me. A beautiful, stately Victorian building which is the Sagamore Hotel at Bolton Landing. The hotel actually sits on its own island in Lake George.Wow, when I grow up, I want to stay there.
Well, despite having a well-developed inner child personality, it is fair to say, I am about as grown up as I am going to ever be.
"Mom, how about a road trip....and lets stay at the Sagamore."
"Great!! Really? That sounds great," Mom says.
Great is so much better than okay.
We are excited. Suddenly we can not pack fast enough. The drive is fun. It is an Indian Summer kind of day. We arrive at Bolton Landing crossing the bridge over the Lake George waters which are sparkling just to welcome us. We drive up the long driveway and The Sagamore is still as regally impressive now as it was back in the day. Heck, my classic Mercedes looks good in front of this hotel. Everything about this feels way better than "okay."
Checking in was seamless. Mom starts walking toward the rear portico (because a place like the Sagamore has porticos not porches :) off the lobby because there is an absolutely stunning sunset view of Lake George through the glass multi-paned French doors.
"Mom, I need you to come here. Please come sign this. Right now."
"But I want to take pictures (when does my Mom not want to take photos?). I'm going to miss the sunset!! Can't I sign whatever later??!!" she says as she starts making her way toward....
"Surprise!!!!!!!"
"Happy Birthday!!!" says our friend Chip who drove all the way from Long Island to Lake George (a 6 hour drive easily) to surprise my Mom.
Now that's love and the perfect start to a vacation that is so much more than "okay."
I love Lake George! Twice I have camped on one of those little islands with Linda and Ken.
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