In the Summer of 2009, we took a big leap and went on a 3 month-long holiday as a family. Originally, we had decided against it for reasons like, “Let’s save money,” “There’s always another summer,” “Can we go for that long with Emma,” “We just took a big birthday trip to Disney World with M… ” etc. etc.
We knew deep down, that would be the Status Quo thinking and just a plain and simple excuse. Sometimes life is just easier that way.
We departed Houston on May 23, 2009 in our Honda Fit and returned in August 2009.
During that entire time J taught 4 on-line classes, successfully. Of course, none of his students had any idea he was hopping across the US (in a tiny car with his wife and daughter), then to Thailand where we hopped around some more all over the country, visited Angkor for a few days, back to Thailand, then back to US, via LAX and back to Texas. At the end of each semester, J announced to his students where he’s been teaching from and the students were stunned.
- Rest Area. Somewhere in Texas on our way to New Mexico.
These are the kind of examples we want to set for our daughter, for the young minds of the future– that whatever IT is, IT is possible. But first, we have to make the decision that it is possible, and follow it with our own actions- no matter how difficult it seems. (Okay, as long as it is not criminal or unethical!)
“Thinking is easy, acting is difficult, and to put one’s thoughts into action is the most difficult thing in the world” ~Goethe
So back to our ambitious itinerary!
First Leg: From Houston to Los Angeles, camping our way through National Parks as a family in our Honda Fit.
Second Leg: From LAX to Thailand with a side trip to Cambodia and Burma (however, we decided to wait to go to Burma at another time, in hindsight, we should have gone!)
Third Leg: From Los Angeles we headed up the coast to Vancouver, then back to Texas – again camping our way through National Parks.
We didn’t have specifics and though I stressed about things like finding a place to stay, booking ahead of time, where will we go, what will we do etc, at the beginning, we had a great time as a family and learned many lessons.
Message to M: There are always those – Lessons. Lessons to be learned. Lessons to be thankful for. Lessons that could change our lives. Lessons of possibilities. Lessons to take notice. Lessons to take action.
“Never give up on something that you can’t go a day without thinking about.” -Anonymous
Next: A Surprise Find: Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas
We Say NO to Status Quo.
Live Small. Live Green. Give Large. Take Little.
Take Notice. Take Action.
The Got Passport Family 
Love it that you took the risk and Just Did It. Will Jack continue to teach via the Net when you move?
Hey Lisa,
Glad to find you here of course! Jack will continue to teach on-line. There’s a whole other story behind it which we will write about after the summer. Nothing is ever that easy but with a little determination, we made it happen.
aye
Excellent! You guys are such awesome parents; I love the messages you pass on to Emma and I’m glad that you share them for the world at large.
I’m gonna have our kid read your blog someday too. 🙂
Hey G! Ms. I’m all over the map. Always glad to see you here. Thanks for the kind words.
Ta Ta for NOW!
aye