Since the moment my daughter Adele came into my life over half a century ago, we’ve been inseparable travel companions. From her earliest days nestled in my arms to the adventures we’ve shared throughout our lives, Adele has been my constant presence – a sprite of a girl who grew into a woman of substance with a killer sense of humor, bringing me both immense joy and enduring support.
Our life has been a travelog of adventures, misadventures, and everything in between. Through it all, we’ve amassed a collection of advice that has shaped our life together, having lived in nine different homes before Adele left for college. It began in a small apartment in Georgetown, a part of a bustling city that I love to this day, where I taught special education and her father pursued his doctoral studies in economics. Though initially anchored in academia, our lives soon veered towards the unpredictability of life on multiple military bases as a result of my husband’s restless spirit and utter detachment from his young family. Despite the challenges, Adele and I tried to embrace each move, finding joy and community in shared interests like reading, movies, and our mutual love for theater.
After thirteen years of nomadic living, including the addition of her two brothers and the final departure of my husband, we returned to my hometown near Philadelphia. There, I found fulfillment in school administration while Adele completed her high school education after so many army schools. Our family dynamic shifted, but our shared belief in each other and our capacity for adventure and resilience remained unwavering. While I had once believed that I would be a professor’s wife, it was my pivot to education that grounded me in an incredible career and offered stability for my children.
While unsettling in the moment, our many moves sparked our shared love of travel and together expanded beyond domestic borders. Together, we ventured to foreign cities, navigating our trademark blend of humor and lack of any sense of direction. Last year, we decided on London. We walked the city, then hopped the train to Leeds, and then to Keighley, walking through the town best known for being home to the iconic Bronte family. With no sense of direction nor thought about what we might need for a somewhat treacherous walk over rough terrain, we traced the steps of the Bronte Sisters, walking over windswept moors of Yorkshire. We spent the day deep in the world of our imagination, conjuring visions of these young writers walking through these very grounds in their little slippers and long dresses. It was a time I have packed away in the treasure chest of my heart.
I am now writing from a café in Paris. Adele’s presence beside me serves as a reminder of the enduring bond between us, forged through decades of shared experiences and challenges, some testing us to the edge of endurance. Yet here we are again, walking through a beautiful city. We are not shoppers; we love to spend our time in wonder and awe of each place we visit. On the plane home, we will no doubt begin planning next year’s trip.
Our family was not an easy one and for many years, we swirled around the hurricane that was my then-husband. Like any storm, he blew in and blew up our peace until we finally left the chaos. Our story is however one of resilience which we learned not as an abstract lesson but one necessary for survival. This was the bond my children and I felt and Adele, as my oldest and my only daughter, found the need as did I for the friendship and mentorship of the strong women we have found along the way. Through it all, our journey has been guided by a spirit of radical listening and a deep appreciation for the transformative power of human connection. As we look towards the future, we have decided to take our show, as it were, on the airwaves and share not only our story but our lessons along the way, as well as the stumbles and missteps.
We hope you will tune into our upcoming podcast, “So, Mom,” and share with us your own stories, questions, and thoughts. I love a good conversation.
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