Saturday, April 16, 2011

Just do it


When my middle son and his wife moved to Texas, I planned to visit them ... soon. But something else always seemed to take precedence. We drove to Florida, to New York, to Ohio. but not to Texas.

The trip seemed so long, and let's face, it unfamiliar. I had been to those other places before. I knew the rest areas and the best places to stop and eat. I had a favorite motel if we decided to break the trip up into two days. And so I kept putting it off.

When I said I didn't want to drive that far, someone suggested flying. Oh, no, too much hassle and besides I'd have to drive to the airport in Charlotte. I hate Charlotte traffic.

I looked into taking a train, but the price was higher than an airplane and it took four days. Not for me.

So when my son announced they were thinking of moving to California, I said, "Well, that's a long way to go for a visit."

'Mom." Pause. "You can not visit me in California just as easily as you don't visit me in Texas."

Wow. Talk about a wakeup call. Had it really been 10 years since they moved from Louisville? And yes, we did visit them there.

So, I said to myself, I'm going. Now. I thought I would have to go alone, but my sister agreed to go with me. We set a date, notified the kids -- in their forties, but still kids to me. (My mom was calling my sister and me "you girls" when we were in our sixties.)

We set off, armed with a Google map and TomTom.

We made it. We had a grand time, the kids were wonderful hosts, and I saw parts of the country I never thought I would see. Our only problem was getting lost in Houston traffic, but we managed to get back on track to arrive at our destination. Now I wonder why I waited so long.

Isn't that like writing a book? You think about it, you make tentative plans, but never start. Then something happens and you know it is now or never. At first it goes along easily, but then you bog down. The plot is going nowhere, you can't see your way to the ending you visualized so clearly.

Then you find your way out and go on and suddenly realize you have accomplished what you put off for so long.

Happy travels!

6 comments:

  1. Hi Sandy, great comparison.
    Regards,
    Arthur

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm glad you went, and doubly glad you had a good time Sandy! And the comparison is so, so true. Live and learn- or in this case relate. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Fear is a powerful snack for self-doubt and dessert to procrastination. Glad you made the trip. Cross one off and move to the next. Think back on a favorite memory of the trip. New idea for a story? One you wouldn't have if you hadn't taken the adventure? Nice blog.

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's really an eye opener when your kids say something so prophetic. It never ceases to amaze me. Many times they are my inspiration and motivation. I'm so glad you made the trip and had a great time. Your analogy is spot on too. This is a great post.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Funny about "you girls." My mom still calls my sister and me you girls and I refer to my daughters that way.

    Great analogy. With life, with writing, with anything, a little "just do it" goes a long way.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love the analogy, Sandy. I don't have a sister, but my mom and I have taken similar trips and always have a great time. So glad you finally made the trip. What an adventure.

    ReplyDelete