52 Ancestors Week 28: Travel

 From me: Oh, the places you'll go. That's not just a Dr. Suess book. Where have your ancestors traveled over the course of their lives? Did they go to another state? Another country? Write about their exploits below! Just remember whatever happened in Vegas STAYS in Vegas!

WE'RE ON A BOAT!

    Traveling is a fun way to see the world and experience new things. We live on a small blue planet that's rich in many different cultures and ways of life. If you have the means you should get out there every once in a while and experience all that this world has to offer. One of my friends has visited almost every single continent and at the time of this writing he plans on visiting Africa. I wonder if he'll find Pride Rock from the "Lion King" there. There really is so much to see out there in just one lifetime.

    As for me, it's safe to say that my ancestors have traveled around the world whenever they had the chance. Some people traveled for work. Some people traveled for vacation. Sometimes ancestors of mine have made it a point to turn a travel destination into a vacation home. I think it's time to talk about how a trip to the most magical place on Earth was also a trip to both of my grandmother's houses.

    My grandmother Olympia may have made Haverhill, Mass her home. However, she and her husband Marco had a winter home in Stuart, Florida.  Yes, I know that this technically makes my grandparents "snowbirds" and everything. It is what it is. Older people generally don't like being cold and even my grandpa Bob had a home in Florida. There's nothing wrong with visiting the Sunshine state from time to time. Just watch out for the snakes, freak rainstorms and crazy people. Caution: Crazy people isn't just a Florida thing!

    I honestly don't remember Ollie's house in Florida that well. I have vague memories of her sharing the place with her sisters Louise and Ellie after Marco had passed away. It was around that time that we decided to visit Ollie and her sisters and visit the Magic Kingdom, Sea World and all the attractions that were there at the time.

    From what my parents remember, getting there was not easy. We unfortunately had a delay and we were stuck at Boston's Logan International Airport. Now, picture my parents with two young children sitting in the terminal getting antsy because we were going nowhere fast. I don't really remember what caused the delay. I have a feeling it might have had something to do with the weather in Boston since it was winter time and winter usually meant a lot of snow in New England. Because we didn't have screens to entertain ourselves, my parents made sure we had plenty of books to read and for the most part we were quiet. At least I hope we were. I just remember getting my fill of the "Garfield" books I had in my backpack. That orange cat never failed to disappoint.

Yes, I'm wearing a DC shirt despite being
a Marvel fanboy. =D

    Eventually, we made it to Florida and as luck would have it my other grandparents were enjoying their stay in the Sunshine state as well! Grandpa Robert and my grandmother Natalie were at their home in Holiday. This meant that we'd have to find the time to go from the east coast of the state to the west coast and still get to the Magic Kingdom all in the space of a couple weeks. Could it be done? Well, when you wish upon a star.....

    Our first stop in our tour of Florida was of course Ollie's house. The other little old Italian ladies were there as well and I remember watching them all eating lunch at the kitchen island. For some reason they were all standing up. I have no idea why and this was decades before people were told it's better to stand at a desk rather than sit at one. It was one of those things they did that made them so endearing. After a quick visit, it was off to Orlando in our fashionable rental car that smelled weird. Like Florida weird.

    We went to Disney and had a great time. I distinctly remember going on Figment's imagination ride in EPCOT and well...that might explain a few things. No, I didn't drink the water! But, I did make it a point to get as plushie version of that dragon. He was awesome! And still is! Dragons are cool.

    Dragons aside we also went to Sea World while we were there and we got to see the then current iteration of  legendary orca named "Shamu". I guess it's true what they say. Shamu can never die. Only the whales who portray her. Seeing the orcas and dolphins were cool and all. But, I think I'd rather see them out in the wild rather than in captivity. Still was a treat. After our visit it was then time to go to the left coast of Florida and to my other grandparents' house.

So, you gonna free us orrr.....?

`   I don't really remember much about the visit to my grandparents' house in Holiday. I do remember talking to them about the trip and asking them if they were going to come back north since my brother and I missed them. I seem to recall seeing my grandmother's collection of creepy dolls for the first time while we were there. It was the first encounter with her life-like dolls and it definitely wasn't going to be the last! Wherever they went, those dolls followed them. There was no escape! They were just so life-like and creepy looking. To a six year old they were pure nightmare fuel! It's a good thing we never inherited them! 

       After a tearful goodbye we made our way back to Salem and thankfully things went a lot smoother. No flights were delayed. There was even an in-flight movie. Of course I don't remember what it was. It was the mid 1980s. It could have been "Airplane!" for all I know. Actually, that wouldn't have been bad. Who doesn't like Leslie Nielsen?

Spaceship Earth! We have a pic of it from
when it was under construction!

    This was just one of the trips my family and I have taken together. We love to travel and I hope one day I get to extend my traveling experience to places outside this hemisphere. Where would I go? Well, I think we all know the answer to that one. The possibilities are endless. I love to travel and this world has so many places to see and many people to meet.

    I am glad I have those memories of traveling to Florida. I'll admit I was young and I don't remember a whole lot about what happened. But, those memories I do have stayed with me because that was the first trip I actually remember. And pics like the ones I've shared today help bring those memories back to the surface.

   Traveling can make you appreciate more of what this world has to offer and I'm glad I got a chance to go. Regrettably, I haven't been to Disney since the 1980s. But, that's okay. We had other exploits that make Disney look like a walk on the beach. Perhaps one day I'll talk about the trips to the Bahamas and Aruba. At least the visit to the Magic Kingdom was unique. I haven't been back since even though my brother took his family there a few years ago. Perhaps one day I'll return and check out the Marvel and Star Wars attractions. Wow, Disney REALLY has changed since I last visited forty years ago. The most magical place on Everyone! 

See ya next time!