My Parents Breaking a 27 Year Europe Fast

In 1982 two young people with heads full of dreams said 'I do' and made their way out of Arlington, TX to London for a backpacking honeymoon-excursion in Europe. I have heard stories my entire life about that trip to Europe. I share their feelings completely. Who wouldn't be drunk off Europe? Who could compare the Ranger's Stadium and Six Flags to Westminster Abby and Parisian fare?

Two young people with nothing on their minds but adventure. Oh, if this could only be something they did every year! Their minds were a buzz with the idea. My mother, 22 at the time, and my dad, 21, knew that only sophisticated, well-cultured couples go to Europe. And who was more sophisticated and cultured than them? Huh, no one! They would go all the time...well that was the plan. How great would it be to establish a favorite deli or coffee shop, eat baguettes and cheese, and drink wine on a favorite hilltop? They made a list in their mind of all the places they would come back to. They had the potential. Until they could go back, they would make a home of their own and live a meager life. Ok, maybe they would have to wait a year before they went back. Then came the new house. Oh, and the inevitable search for a fitting job. We'll make Europe a 5 year anniversary...Then I was born. 20 year anniversary. But, other things got in the way. I almost hurt for them.

I ran my hand over the soft-wooded jewelery box from Paris laying on their dresser. A taunting souvenir. By this time I was married and had a house of my own. By this time, I had gone to Europe...twice. This jewelry box was a subtle reminder of a lost dream--an antique memory. My parents never go to expensive restaurants, they spent no money on themselves. They were teachers who taught students about Europe, encouraged them to go, but never went themselves. No one was more deserving.

Well, God said it was time to go back if they were ever going to. My father was selected as Georgia's secondary education representative for a conference or event in Wales. A chance of a lifetime. All expenses would be paid. They just needed to get my mom there. The idea was surreal. I think they even considered if they were going to go. They had said they couldn't for so long that it was just a difficult concept to accept. Oh of course I was going out of my mind. It was decided at last. They would go! They decided to extend the trip, and include time in London. Derek and I had just been there in November. It was really our honeymoon trip though we had been married for two years. We fit three countries in six days. We both agreed that if we did it again, we would spend the whole time in London. The people we met, the place we stayed, everything was addictive. We needed more of them. We had convinced my parents that if they stayed in London, they needed to stay at Palmer's Lodge, the hostel we stayed at. If anyone is reading this, there is no better place to be in London than Palmer's Lodge. Being there is like sleeping or living in a museum or someone' s Victorian mansion in the 19th century.

My parents landed in London at 11pm last night, but it was 2am before they were able to check into the hostel. If anyone only knew how badly I wanted to be with them. Derek also. We want to go back. More than that, I have to compare their lives to our own. Will we be the ones counting the years before we can consider going again? I can't imagine the euphoria of being there when they have gone without for so long. Will there be a point where we have wanted to go for so long that it is almost more satisfying to dream it than to actually do it? I have a feeling that it was almost that way; especially for my father. I don't want to think it, I want to do it. I am a person of unending goals and dreams. I'm almost never satisfied with exactly how everything is at that very moment.

This particular post is all about rambling. I wanted to express my happiness for my parents, but only because the feeling is so deeply rooted in the passion Derek and I both share for traveling...particularly to the UK. I want to see my husband's face light up like it did when we were there. I want our joy for traveling and each other to never fade. Even if we have to go on a 27 year Europe fast, I want to go to Europe again. It's more than the trip.