The Trials and Joys of Traveling on the Holidays

by | Dec 21, 2017 | family, holidays, vacations | 31 comments

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I woke up this morning to bright sunshine. Bypassing the coffee pot, I stepped out onto the patio and checked the thermometer. It was cold, 39o, but it felt warmer with the sun shining. Coming back inside, the first thing I did was check the weather app on my phone. Seventy-nine degrees in the Bahamas. Nice!

In a few days my daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, and I will be in Nassau, soaking up the sun and swimming in the sea.

Weā€™re not there yet, though. I checked one more app on my phone: maps. If I left home right now, it tells me, Iā€™d arrive at the airport in 58 minutes. I’m writing this on the Wednesday before Christmas, though, I wonā€™t be leaving until December 24th. Anything can happen on I-5 or at the airport during the Christmas holiday.

My sisterā€™s near miss taught me that. She had a ticket for the train from Seattle to Portland today. Today, not Monday. Thank goodness! On Monday, Amtrak was trying out a new route. For some as yet unknown reason, the train came around a corner going 50 mph over the speed limit and derailed, many of the cars falling off the overpass onto I-5 or into the woods. Youā€™ve probably seen pictures of the train car that was left dangling. It was a huge and terrible accident, fatal for three passengers.

As of this writing, the southbound lanes of I-5 are still closed. My sister has decided to pass on the train. Instead sheā€™s going to bake cookies today and hope the freeway will be open tomorrow.

Most years, my kids and their families come here for Christmas. They fly in from all over the country. Almost every year their travel has been uneventful. The only exception I can remember was one year when it snowed so hard we couldnā€™t get out of our street.

When you travel during the holidays, you just have to have faith that everything will work out. And I do have faith that it will.

So now Iā€™m going to unzip my suitcase and fill it up with sundresses, shorts, T-shirts, two bathing suits, and a big tube of sunscreen. The beach is calling.

31 Comments

  1. Nicki Chen

    We did have a wonderful time. Despite the distance between Seattle and the Bahamas and the unseasonably cold weather in much of the United States, our travel was uneventful and our time in the Bahamas warm and memorable. Wishing you all the best in 2018.

    Reply
  2. restlessjo

    I hope you had a wonderful time. Whenever one of these disastrous accidents takes place you think ‘thank God me and mine weren’t involved’ but you always know that someone’s nearest and dearest were. I hope life flows smoothly in 2018, Nicki. :)) šŸ™‚

    Reply
  3. Annika Perry

    Nicki, have a (or probably having) a wonderful time and hope the travels went well. I always have a sense of trepidation before setting off…been caught out in bad snowstorms during winter, or strikes at airports in summer! Fingers crossed all went smoothly for you.

    Reply
  4. macjam47

    Merry Christmas,and have a wonderful trip.

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      Thank you, Michelle. Merry Christmas to you.

      Reply
  5. evelyneholingue

    Enjoy the treat, Nicki! Happy travels and happy stay!

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      Thank you, Evelyne. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

      Reply
  6. Mabel Kwong

    Have fun in the warm weather, Nicki! Beach sounds very appealing – not just sun and warmth but great views too. You’d definitely want everything to work out, from travel to bringing the right stuff, the weather, food and more. Hopefully it all is a great trip for you and a break away from the usual. Here in Australia many of us have a one week break off until the New Year. Very much welcomed. Happy holidays šŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      I hope you’ll have a pleasant Christmas/year-end break. The one-week break isn’t common here, but my children always save up vacation days. I’m grateful for that. Happy holidays.

      Reply
  7. derrickjknight

    Very good luck with the travelling, and have a lovely time

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      Thanks, Derrick. I may just need that luck. Now we’re expecting snow the day I’ll be driving to the airport. I hope the roads will be clear.

      Reply
  8. Marta

    Have fun! I will also be heading to warmer climates for my holidays, but unfortunately there’s still almost 2 more months for that!

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      Keep warm in the meantime, Marta. This will be one of the few times for me to have a sunny vacation in winter. We don’t have much snow here, but it’s cold and it rains a lot in the winter. It will be nice to have a break.

      Reply
  9. nrhatch

    Have FUN in the SUN, Nicki! And safe travels to you all!

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      Thanks, Nancy. I’m planning on it. Have a great holiday in the Florida sun.

      Reply
  10. Eric Bruckbauer

    It’s really scary when I think about the possibility of Mom being on that train. There are too many times when it seems like my loved ones missed being the middle of a tragedy only by a subtle shift in circumstance. Really reminds you to cherish every day.

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      So true, Eric. We should cherish every day. Fortunately, our travel is usually very safe.

      Merry Christmas to you and Hannah and the kids.

      Reply
  11. autumnashbough

    Travel is always an adventure. This year we’re not traveling. It’s easier, but it’s sad, too. I miss my white Christmases!

    I expect to see pictures of bright sunshine and tropical waters soon.

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      Yes, I’ll be glad to share some pictures of sunshine and tropical water.

      I’m just happy it’s not snowing or planning to snow here this week. That way I won’t have any trouble driving to the airport. In Western Washington, winter snow is always hit and miss. We can’t count on it coinciding with Christmas.

      Reply
  12. Veda (Melton) Baldwin

    ENJOY–the sun and surf, but especially your kids and grand-kids. Have a wonderful holiday together!

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      Thank you, Veda. It should be a great holiday with my family. Have a wonderful Christmas.

      Reply
  13. Kate Crimmins

    I remember one trip to Florida during the winter from the very cold Philadelphia area. Back then you did curbside bag checks and everything was quick and easy. (Remember those days?) However, the Gulf War had just started. Curbside checking was eliminated and they weren’t prepared for everyone to check in at the counter. The line wound around and outside down the pavement. There were people in flip flops and shorts, prepared for Florida, waiting outside in 25 degree weather. Fortunately I never traveled that lightly and I had jeans and a jacket. We almost missed our flight too. They started plucking people out of the line as their take off times were coming up. This was long before today’s security checks. Now I travel prepared for anything including an apocalypse.

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      Yes, I remember the days of curbside bag checks. I even remember the days of being served a full dinner and lying down on a couple of empty seats. Once I flew from Manila to LA, and when I arrived, my connecting flight was unavailable because while I was in the air, the airline had gone out of business. I don’t even remember the name of the airline now.

      Reply
  14. L. Marie

    Merry Christmas, Nicki! So glad your sister didn’t take that train!

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      Merry Christmas, Linda. We make the best choices we can, but luck is always a factor.

      Reply
  15. Jill Weatherholt

    Iā€™m happy to hear your sister is safe, Nicki. Have a wonderful holiday with your family. Enjoy the warmth!

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      Thanks, Jill. With all the traveling we do these days, we have to be grateful that it’s usually very safe. Merry Christmas. I hope your holiday will be full of cheer.

      Reply
  16. Sue Vincent

    Travel safe…and easily…and have a wonderful time šŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      Thank you, Sue. I’m all packed and ready to go. Have a wonderful holiday.

      Reply

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