A Mystery Trip
Remember when your parents or someone special in your family took you on a trip? You may not have known where you were going, but you all piled in the car and kept asking “are we almost there?â€
As my son grew up we would jump in the car and say we were going to get lost so we could find ourselves. Venturing from one intersection to another – he would get to “choose†which way we turned at each red light or stop sign.
Yes, we would invariably get lost but we would eventually find our way home. It was always an adventure.
I believe my father and mother got me started on this years ago when we would go for rides on Sunday afternoons. I remember asking, “Where are we?†and my father sometimes said “I don’t know. I think we are lost.â€
Then he would grin as he watched to see my reaction through the rear view mirror.
This weekend, as part of my “weekend just for Mom,†I offered to drive her on a trip of her choice. She could decide where. She could decide when.
Now Mom held out on planning with me as long as she could. She finally explained that she wanted me to pick the place so I began making plans. I said, “Ok†I would plan a mystery trip just for her.
We would leave early Saturday morning.
The beach is where we went on vacations every year as my brother, sister and I were growing up. Dad would go fishing and Mom would take the children that didn’t want to fish out to the beach for the day. Sometimes we would all go fishing, but most times it was an either or situation.
Isle of Palms was our undisclosed destination. Mom had not seen the magnificent new bridge in Charleston and mentioned recently that she was always uncomfortable on that narrow one going between Charleston and Mt. Pleasant. My plan was to change that thought.
As we got in the car, I asked if she knew which way we were going. She suspected we were headed south. After all, I suggested she not wear hose in case she wanted to get her feet wet.
My mother is an easy person to talk with and we had a great time chatting on the way. As we approached Charleston, I explained my plan…at least part of it. She was not sure she wanted to ride over the bridge, but when we got there, she realized it was just like any modern highway. We enjoyed the view and were over the bridge before we knew it.
Little did she know she was in for another real surprise. You see, there was a dear friend of hers she had not seen in over 20 years. They kept in touch by phone but, it just never worked out for them to see each other. My last minute call to see if Doris was going to be home met with positive results and I had planned a visit at 11.
They had a great time catching up. Two of her daughters and several of her young grandchildren spent time with us. Later we also had a chance to visit with Doris’ husband…a man I always enjoyed being around when I was a young girl.
After our visit, we went to the beach, saw the ocean and had a seafood lunch…one of her favorite meals.
Then, another surprise awaited her.
We drove back over 526 and stopped at a dear friend of mine’s home in North Charleston. George had always said he’d like to meet my mother. He is house bound now after an accident at the Navy Shipyard years ago.
He’s the smartest man I know in North Charleston and he is always open to visits no matter what time it is. When we arrived that afternoon, he had made coffee and was rocking in the swing on his porch. For hours he and Mom talked about Wales, WW II and shared many other stories. It was a pleasure listening to them.
Yes, the mystery trip was a success.
My wish for you today is that you remember the little trips you had with your parents growing up and, if possible, take them on a mystery trip soon. If you aren’t fortunate enough to have your parents today, take someone else on a mystery trip and make some positive and lasting memories. There are many wonderful places and people to see in South Carolina and around our country.
~ Joellen