The Grateful Tread: A Traveler’s Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for a great many things.  And, not surprisingly, many of those things are travel related.  And so, in celebration of my favorite day of the year, I bring to you things for which I am thankful…

I am thankful that I got to visit Disney World with my mother

Our Mother’s Day Disney World trip was the best trip I’ve ever taken with my mom.  And now she’s a Disney fan, too!  So I guess I should add to this ‘I am thankful that my mom learned to love Walt Disney World’ and ‘I am thankful that I got to return with her a second time in September–and yet again this coming February!’

 I am thankful for my husband and frequent travel partner

He put up with me when I was miserable in Paris, he climbed mountains with me in Maine and Nova Scotia (and waited as I huffed and puffed up steep inclines)–heck, he even held my barf bag in the cruise ship emergency room on our honeymoon five years ago (they treated anaphylaxis with a morphine drip–and then they took the morphine away.  Not fun.)  Dear, if you’re reading this, know that I am thankful for you 365 days a year.

I am thankful for this blog

I’ve met so many people and learned so many things and generally had such a great time maintaing this blog.  I feel silly being thankful for an imaginary construct, but honestly I can’t think of a better hobby than travel blogging . It gives me an excuse to travel, inspiration for writing, motivation to learn photography, and amazing interaction with people from all over the world (well, the US and Canada for sure!)  Thanks, Suitcase Scholar!

I am thankful for my new travel friend

Let’s face it–life is about relationships.  You can have everything your heart desires, go everywhere you’ve ever wanted to go, see everything you’ve ever wanted to see–but without someone real that you can share your stories with, what’s the point?  But real friends are hard to find–especially as an adult.  But I found one–all because I’m a crazy-travel-forum-nerd, travel blogger, and Facebook addict.  And she is the best friend anyone could ever ask for.  Melissa Sue, I’m thankful for you.  True story.

I am thankful that I am able to travel solo

For some people, solo travel is a way of life.  For others, it is a necessity.  For me, it is a luxury.  I’m married; I own a home.  I have–well, this year, had–a job.  I’m not independently wealthy.  Yet everyone in my life supported me on each of the solo trips I’ve ever taken.  Those trips have made me a stronger, more independent, happier individual.  And for that, I am eternally thankful.

I suppose I should also mention that I’m also thankful for the 10 second delay self-timer on my camera, without which I’d not have any photos of myself in any of my solo travel destinations!

I am thankful that I discovered road tripping

I admit it–I wasn’t thrilled about our road trip plan for this past summer.  But it turned out to be the best trip I’ve ever taken.  I am thankful that we went–and I’m even more thankful that I listened to my husband, who insisted it would be a great time.  You were right dear–you were right.

He loves it when I say that!

There are a great many other things I am thankful for that cannot be captured in a photo.  I’m thankful that I’m mobile enough to enjoy traveling; I’m also thankful that I have the will to continue traveling should my mobility some day become limited.  In a related thankfulness, I’m thankful to the couch to 5K program that’s making me even more mobile!  Perhaps next year my husband won’t have to watch me huff and puff up mountainsides.  I’m thankful for every person I’ve met on the road, for every destination I’ve visited (yes, even Paris) and for every destination to come.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  Now–what are you thankful for?