Travel!

[Red71]

I just wanted to post this picture from my trip to Maui. I’m the red head with the white shirt. The picture includes my grandchildren, my son and daughter-in-law, my daughter-in-law’s parents, and my husband. The picture with the bird man is a tradition for us when we go to Maui. I had such a good time and came back feeling totally rested. To all of those who are debating travel, go for it, whether you are sightseeing or relaxing! It will do you good! Elaine

[Hidden]

Hi Elaine,

Thanks for sharing your picture! It looks like you had a great holiday. I agree that going away can be very relaxing.

Sophie ❤

[Justme153]

Awesome Picture thanks for sharing!!Glad you had a wonderful time!

[PLASEM]

Nice picture wonderful that all your family were with you in Maui

[nstonerocks]

So happy you had a great family vacation. You look fabulous. Handsome family! Isn’t travel rejuvenating? Hope to take a vacation soon myself.

[Hidden]

What a great picture. I wish I lived on the west coast so I could go there.

[Red71 in reply to Hidden]

We have places off the east coast or Europe that we would like to go to also, but nothing beats 5-6 hours straight through to Maui from here when you want a relaxing vacation!

[Hidden]

Red71 (Now I see where your "handle" on the site comes from! ),

Wow! What a great pic! My cold bones here in chilly Dallas warmed up 20 degrees just looking at you and your beautiful family in that tropical scene! And I love the birds! Aren't they just so smart? I def need to book someplace warm soon....

Thanks for sharing!

Lynn

[Red71]

Yes, I’ll be red until I can’t get to my hairdresser and then she promises to come to my house..lol!

[Hidden]

Great photo. What a nice memory to share and remember. Beautiful photo of a family together having a great time.

[Hidden]

We just returned after my last trip in the late 80’s. Haleakala was just as awe inspiring as I remembered. What a great vacation place for you. Mahalo!

[Red1246]

So happy for you went in this trip with family and it was relaxing. Everyone in the photo looks very happy: great shot!

All best regards,

Red

[Barbteeth]

What a beautiful lady you are and your family take after you in the good looks department!!

So glad for you that you’ve had a wonderful holiday...good for the spirit

My hubby girls and their hubbies are going to Madeira in July...not been before but July seems a long way off

I’m contemplating going on a yoga retreat in June...been before (pre mbc) it’s in south west france in a beautiful farm house miles from anywhere....I’m dithering about going though as I’ll not have any family with me ....that’s the whole point!! But I know some of the girls who go ...they’ve saved a place for me so I can decide later...I think I’ve lost some confidence since my diagnosis....I used to be so ‘up for anything’ but not now....mbc has ruined everything for me and my family....ugh

Barb xx

[Red71 in reply to Barbteeth]

Go Barb! It will boost your confidence and you will feel better. I’m leaving Tuesday for 10 days in Arizona and I’m also doubting myself. I’ll be getting together with a group of women I haven’t seen since before my diagnosis. They know but I’m doubting my ability to keep up. I know they will make allowances but I want to be the former me, not the present me. But I know if I don’t go I’ll be really mad I missed the fun, so I’ll go, and if I have to take a few more naps or go to bed early, I’ll just do it!

You have got to go...I’ve been to southwest region of France...the Dordogne, and loved it. A group of four of us stayed in a remote farmhouse and did day trips for a week and had the best time! Go for me because I probably will never get there again.

Elaine

[Hidden in reply to Red71]

Sounds wonderful. Always wanted to go to Arizona. I have traveled overseas many times in my 40s, but not much in our own beautiful country. 10 days away from reality sounds like so much fun. Yeah, so if you have to take a nap, so be it, but you may have such a good time that you get an extra surge of energy. I just can't afford these trips anymore so I live vicariously through you ladies and your trips. (Plus, it's cheaper that way LOL).

Unfortunately, I do not really have anyone to go with. Most of my friends don't even live close to me and have spouses and grown children and grandchildren. I was thinking of doing one of those train trips in US by myself but they are not as cheap as I expected.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi,

How about taking a bus excursion? Do travel agencies offer those kind of holidays where you live? We have lots of package bus holidays in the UK and on the continent, which are handy if you want everything planned and pre-booked for you.

Sophie

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

No buses ever. When I was in my early 20s, my friend and I wanted to go to Fl but were on a young person's budget. Actually, we were going to visit her brother who was in federal prison in Tallahassee for some kind of check thing. But some guys from our neighborhood were driving by car to Miami and said they would drop us off in Tallahassee. The drive was a horror...he had a car with the top down and it was super windy and I was in the back.

We were dropped at a Holiday Inn along a highway which was about a two mile walk to the prison in the middle of nowhere. Then when it was time to leave, we had thought we would have enough to fly home but we didn't so we did greyhound. It was a horror. A 28 hour bus ride. I could not sleep at all on the bus meanwhile my friend slept the whole time on the bus. I said never again.

I have no problem going somewhere by myself but not a long bus ride with my bowel issues now.

Thinking maybe of going to Cap Cod in US where there are boats that take you whale watching and being near the water but then I would not feel comfortable eating at a nice restaurant by myself.

We will see. I really need to go on one more trip. On the better side of things, a friend and I that had been friends for years had stopped talking years ago about an argument that I barely remember. We have not spoken for over 7 years although we have mutual friends so I knew she heard I had cancer.

Anyway, out of the blue, she emailed me yesterday a photo of her and I on a trip upstate. I was so happy to hear from her but did not make a big thing of it. She was reaching out I guess and testing the waters.

So that made me happy that she reached out and even better that the cancer was not discussed. So hopefully, it will take a little time, but we will be able to see more of each other. She has seven siblings and I was also close to her older sister (more my age...same age as me) and her younger sister who is now a 45 year old teacher.

Then her sister reached out to me on facebook so glad about that also. Mary and I even when we were still friendly decided NOT to be fb friends because we used to disagree on everything. So happy that her sister requested a friendship.

I just have not been away for years and this disease has made me so isolated there are times, I would literally go weeks without talking to a live person.

I had to ask my friend in FL (which I did several months ago) if she would handle things once I pass. I had nobody to ask. My friends in NY have full time jobs, adult kids, grandkids and it would take alot of work and it is a big thing to ask of somebody. SO my friend in FL is married with no kids and 63 and her husband just lost his job and she has some family here and she said of course.

It is an awful feeling when you realize you have nobody to bury you or take care of things. So although I have a little over $6,000 in savings, I try not to touch it bc I need to make sure her and Mike do not have to spend a penny of their own money since they are not wealthy at all. So I took care of all the legal already but told my friend she cannot die before me bc everything is legally set up for her to do things and it would be hard for me to find somebody else. It is alot to ask of somebody. So she promised she would NOT die before me LOL

[Barbteeth in reply to Red71]

Elaine you speak wisdom and are so right...I’ve pretty well decided to go...I don’t have to partake in every class and there’s a swimming pool so I’ll enjoy that

Just escaping from this horrible life for a bit will do me good

I’m going to a class tonight so will put my deposit down...my daughters want me to go!!.. not told hubby lol!!

Barb xx

[Hidden in reply to Barbteeth]

Hi Barb,

It sounds like you are almost decided about this holiday. There have been trips that have passed me by that I regret going on. My husband had a business meeting a few years ago in San Antonio in Texas and I could have gone with him, as we had two couples we are friends with who lived there at the time. So I could have seen them. I have been to San Antonio before, but this would have been different and I know I would have had a good time. Now they have both moved far away and the opportunity has gone. So if you have the chance to go on holiday I would take it. I would probably end up scouting out the local spas and infrared saunas, and getting some massages, as that's my idea of a relaxing break! Or having a dip in the swimming pool or the sea.

Sophie x

[Hidden in reply to Barbteeth]

Wow...A farmhouse inn Southwest of France. Go, do not worry about how you may or may not feel now . And in June when it must be so beautiful and the start of Spring. Time to step outside the MBC bubble and go somewhere that may totally take your mind off all your worries. I, unfortunately, can no longer afford to really go anywhere nice but these days even a dinner with a friend is an event for me and I try to enjoy it. I usually feel sometimes like canceling but don't want to do that to a friend, and then I go and have a wonderful time and for a while, I feel completely normal again.

Don't allow MBC to completely dominate your life. I am sure going to a retreat like that will totally dismiss for a while all you are going through and it's a wonderful get away with the girls. Plus it gives you something to look forward to. I am not into yoga but at a farmhouse in France would be enough to make me try it.

As the Nike advertisement always say JUST DO IT.

[Barbteeth in reply to Hidden]

I know you’re right!!

It’s not even expensive...£700 for the week includes all food and classes...we take someone to do the meals etc and there’s a swimming pool

I’ll decide soon as need to book a flight to Limoges...what worries me is the driving as the retreat is about 2.5 hrs drive but I’m sure I can tag along with someone else and not drive and dose myself up with painkillers...there’s a way round it I’m sure

Thanks for giving me a kick up the bum!!! I needed it

Life’s too short

Barb xx

[Hidden in reply to Barbteeth]

I am that stupid. I have no idea what that means in US dollars. I am sure one of the ladies may give you a ride. I was going to say you could get a cab (not even sure in those areas) but then realized how long a drive you said it would be. Probably would cost more than the entire trip.

I have been nowhere since the diagnosis. I have not even been back to Manhattan in three years. I would jump at the opportunity to go anywhere these days. Not driving keeps me very limited and my friends, unlike me, have a spouse, or grown kids with grandchildren and work full-time jobs. So they all go on family vacations now.

I don't even live in a home. I rent an apt. in a coop building. The building has a beautiful pool area and a little private gated park where one can eat and smoke but I have not used that pool in years. I will NOT ever get into a bathing suit again, especially with my heavy scarring on my thigh. Plus, it is kind of cliquish. There are little groups of ladies that hang out together. I have lived here 25+ years and keep to myself so I really don't know anybody that well except to smile and nod.

Now that I have all the time in the world, I don't have the money to do much LOL....

You will kick yourself if you choose not to go and then that week you will be wishing you went. You have to go. How am I going to enjoy myself if I can't read up on your trip and the other ladies' trips? I am living through all the adventures the ladies on here go on. For now, that is fine with me. So you have to go so that I can enjoy hearing about.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

£700 is the equivalent of just over $900. I know because my husband is American and I often deal in dollars, as well as pounds.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Wow that seems affordable even for me. I get confused with that. That seems cheap then bc she would have to fly from England to France, no? I am going to look into things. There is a group globetrotters where single people of all ages (my age I see many) go on planned trips to Ecuador, Spain, Thailand and they post pictures and it looks great. But I really cant afford those and I dont know why but it is always like an extra $1,000 for a singe supplement and I am one of those people who would not be good at sharing a room with a stranger.

I live in NY. Even if I rented a cabin upstate and took a bus there and rented a small cabin in the woods (but cabins that are so close they touch each other). I watch too many scary movies and I would freak out being alone in a cabin near the woods.

Most of my friends have families so they do their family vacations so hard at my age to find someone who could travel alone. I will see. Life sometimes has a way of giving us surprises (both good and bad) so who knows?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Yes, it's pretty affordable and easy to travel around Europe. France is very accessible. Calais is just 22 miles from Dover across the English Channel, so people often take the ferry. You can fly too, which is very quick. I've always taken the ferry. I've never flown to France.

I can understand how you don't want to travel alone. I don't think travel agencies should charge single supplements. Maybe if you asked some of your friends they might want to go away with you. Everyone needs a break, even families with children. They might welcome the suggestion!

Sophie ❤

[Hidden]

Hi Elaine

Thanks for posting that lovely pic.

Hoorah for travel. Book your next trip I say

Clare xx

[HopeinNJ]

Aloha! I too was in Maui 1/17-1/25. We had a wonderful trip.

[Wintervt]

Thanks for sharing this Elaine, you and your family look very happy!

xo Jade

[Rhwright12]

Wow! Looks like everyone is having a good time! 😀

[Have-faith]

What a colorful and beautiful photo! Thank you for sharing.

[hdhonda]

Beautiful picture. Glad you had a wonderful time. Blessings Hannah

[Mindysooty]

What a lovely photo . Priceless family memories. Gorgeous 💕 x

[rubyc1234]

Great photo and it looks like a great time!

[Moon-and-Stars]

I wish you hadn’t posted that picture Elaine, I’m green with envy 😎

[LotusAFlower]

Beautiful Faces ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[geewisdom]

Thanks Elaine,

You look great , so encouraging we must ENJOY Life!

Gee

[hopenowandtomorrow]

Beautiful & colorful picture Elaine!!! Thank you for sharing! ❤️🙏❤️

[lashinator]

Beautiful!

[Teddielottie]

What a lovely happy family pic...one to frame ! Glad you had a fabulous holiday in Maui . Our next family break will be at a relaxing lodge in the Lake District at Easter , but we will be all wrapped up there ! 😂 x

[Red71]

But I bet there will be a nice fire to sit next to! Every holiday is good!

[mariootsi]

Elaine,

Beautiful photo! Beautiful family. So glad you enjoyed your trip!