I have a widowed friend who has a “travel tree.” She keeps a pencil-style Christmas tree up year round and adds a small ornament to it from all of her travels. There’s a fluffy little sheep from Ireland, a set of bagpipes from Scotland, and a vast menu of other cultural relics that bring back vivid memories. There’s even a penguin from Antarctica. To stand with her by the tree is to hear story after splendid story about “the time that….”
The most interesting souvenir, she keeps hidden. She once reached into the middle of the tree and pulled out a small, flat square wrapped package on an ornament hook.
A condom.
“They had them on the hotel counters in China. So I took one and made it my souvenir.”
She shares stories – more than photos – of her past trips.
I’m not one of those who wants to leave my Christmas tree up all year long, but….I’m thinking that when I return from Route 66, I might just begin a travel tree as part of my travel tradition.
Angie Braaten is our host at http://www.ethicalela.com today for the final day of this month’s Open Write. She encourages us to write a poem about what we would like to be when we grow up. You can read her full prompt here.
Secret Badge
when I grow up I want to be a traveling food critic a descriptive writer of all things edible…. ….(or not)….. all expenses paid to go out into the world and live it up like a spy on a secret mission with an official foodie badge that I keep covered until the end of the meal…. ….(or forever)…… unless I want immediate preferential seating or my glass runs dry or I get bad service then I whip it out like some veiled threat of a viral review that might shut the place down ….(or something)……
oh and a hotel critic too I want to be one who jumps on beds to test the comfort rolls around in the sheets and fills the bathtub to overflowing with expensive bubble bath with little flecks of real gold dust and eats all the snacks that cost twelve dollars each for free in those presidential suites with corner windows on the top floor one who shows my badge at checkout
and I want an airplane badge, too so I can cut the line at security and go in my own private room where the rest of everyone all tired-legged and eyeing my complimentary plate of sugared grapes and chocolates whispers who is she?? but I play it cool never revealing my name like no one can know who I am a secret traveling critic as I take my seat in first class throw my feet up on the plush footrest whip out my review computer and write away into the clouds ….(or just dream about it all)….
then go home to the country and press wildflowers and read poetry and bask in full-face dog kisses with whole-body tail wags because I’m back where I belong …..(without a badge)…….
Today’s host for the Open Write at http://www.ethicalela.com is Angie Braaten, who inspires us to write On Turning….poems, modeling verse about a particular age after Billy Collins’ On Turning Ten, and then to take it a step further by trying to connect form choice to the foused age. I chose a nonet since I chose to write about turning nine. You can read her full prompt here.
Dr. Leilya Pitre of Ponchatoula, Louisiana is our host for today’s Open Write. She brings us a short form, the sevenling, which you can read about here.
Foxgloves at Gibbs Gardens in Ball Ground, Georgia
Foxglove Funeral for a Grandson
Foxglove bells chime joy, bring smiles on Mother’s Day in Georgia, painting gardens in blush colors: the female womb blooms
Foxglove bells toll grief, stir longing on Mother’s Day in Kentucky: a petal flips, a cradle rocks in heaven ~ the female soul cries
empty arms mourning a baby not born
Foxglove in Kentucky, symbolizing a baby in heaven
Jennifer Jowett of Michigan hosts today’s Open Write at http://www.ethicalela.com and offers us a compelling prompt about the future of our world today. Her prompt is one we dance along the periphery of in so many of our countryside drive discussions, wondering about the future of our county, heartsick over each new development, each new killing of droves of trees that were once home to birds, deer, foxes, squirrels, bees, chipmunks, raccoons, opossums…..it breaks my heart for the wildlife and for the future of our grandchildren.
Just some of my writing friends, NCTE, Anaheim, CA November 2023
Today’s host at the Open Write is Jessica from Arkansas, who inspires us to write about our friends using borrowed lines from friendship songs. You can read her full prompt here.
I can’t think of a better way to kick off any month than celebrating friendship. Jessica’s invitation to search songs was just what my heart needed this morning, and for me, no one touches my heart like The Divine Miss M. Here’s to all of my friends who are writers – all of you, using a line or two from Wind Beneath My Wings
A Haiku for YOU
you, fellow writer, are the wind beneath my wings cheers to friends with pens!
did I ever tell (forgive me if I haven’t) you, you’re my hero?
My mother was a flight attendant at one point in her life, and she once told me that if I had any clothing that wouldn’t fit into my carry-on, I should layer myself up and wear things onto the plane, then take them off once boarded. I remembered that tip coming back from San Antonio, Texas a couple of years ago when I couldn’t figure out what to do with a couple of gift souvenirs. I swapped the clothes for the suitcase space and wore a few extra layers home. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
I give a lot of thought to souvenirs. I want them to be packable, practical, and place-based. That’s why my preferred souvenirs are often bracelets – – I’ll actually wear them, they don’t compete for space on the return trip home, and they help me remember the place in some special way. I remember looking all over Texas for a bluebonnet bracelet – – the kind that has a real flower in an oval shaped setting, so I could bring home my very own Texas state flower. I couldn’t find one anywhere and ended up instead with an Alamo t-shirt, which I’d never planned to buy except for the unpredictable February weather that was hot one day and freezing the next.
In Europe, I bought scarves, which I’ve found useful particularly in movie theaters and restaurants where the air conditioning vents somehow always end up blowing right on my shoulders. They fold down to a thin layer in the carry-on.
But the best souvenirs to preserve the memories are photographs – – the moments captured in time that take us back to all the people and places we’ve loved. They fit right on a micro memory card and take up virtually no suitcase space!
What are your favorite souvenirs to buy as you travel?
Several years ago when I traveled to Europe with a group of students for ten days, I realized that the recurring motif of 3s throughout so much of life holds true for travel as well and makes traveling with only a carry-on possible even for lengthy trips. Three bottoms and three tops yield nine outfits, and that’s more than enough clothing to take me through a week along Route 66 – and these items will fit with room to spare in one small bag.
Two friends in my writing groups have lost their checked luggage in the past few months. When we all gathered for an NCTE presentation in Anaheim, California last November, our Louisiana writer’s bags failed to turn up at the airport; she had to go buy all new clothes for the trip, right down to underwear, makeup, and a toothbrush. Our Michigan friend seemed to have it worse – – she’d flown to Italy and ended up borrowing clothes – – even for the wedding she was there to attend.
So I’m more than a little particular about not checking any bags, fearing I’ll end up on one side of the continent and my belongings on the other.
Before I decided to purchase my Coleman carry-on, I searched several major airlines’ websites to find out their maximum luggage dimensions for carry-ons. I took the smallest dimensions and made the decision to purchase a small hard-shell bag that could stand up to me. Solid swivel wheels, a thick exterior, and a non-flimsy expandable handle were the three most important features, and I also inspected it to be sure it had a stealthy zipper. I landed on a Coleman with a tactical flair.
My personal bag is one that I carry only on the airplane to get the maximum ride for space; once I get where I’m going, I whip out my Travelon backpack with its locking features and use this for daily excursions. The clasps that fasten the bag shut mean I don’t have to worry as much about theft, and the RFID protection gives an added layer of peace of mind. For this trip, I’m also adding a crossbody bag from Travelon, recommended by my traveling friend Glenda from Idaho. I’ll put the crossbody in the backpack and the backpack in the personal bag so that I have a range of bag options for any outing.
Crossbody/Fanny Pack Convertible bag recommended by my friend Glenda
I’m still seeking travel hacks, and some friends have emailed and texted me some great suggestions recently. I appreciate all of the voices of experience and the tips. Please share any packing ideas in the comments – I’m always looking for ways to become a savvier traveler!
I’m not a fan of day-of-the-week pill organizers when going through airport security. These handy containers are fine for storing vitamins and medicines when I’m camping or at home, but in the absence of their labeled bottles, I fear suspicion by airport officials, which may lead to my detainment and a missed flight. I worry that I’ll be the one whose vitamins get taken to the lab for analysis while other passengers glare at a girl…..standing there with a suitcase…..just trying to keep mood swings at bay and find some energy in B12 and B6…. like I’m some kind of criminal drug dealer.
I was texting with my friend Glenda, a fellow traveler in my writing group, who reminded me that along Route 66, we’ll be passing CVS Pharmacies and stores where we can buy first aid items and medicines if we encounter the need for them, unlike what we would be able to do if we were on a cruise or out of the country. She suggested a few of the basics – some antibiotic Band-Aids and Tylenol and any prescriptions we normally take. I agree with her. Since we will only be taking carry-on luggage, every square inch of our luggage space is prime real estate.
I’m using a quart-size Ziploc bag for our travel first aid kit. Here is my list of items I plan to take:
Tylenol
Band Aids infused with Antibiotic Ointment
Prescription medications
Zyrtec
Bonine
Prilosec
Aquaphor ointment
Tums
What suggestions do you have for other items I should consider taking? I welcome all of your best first aid travel hacks!
Last Friday, I started reviewing tumblers for my trip down half of Route 66 later this month. I’m heat sensitive and prone to lightning-fast dehydration, so my cup choice matters a lot to my physical ability to enjoy outings. On Saturday, I reviewed the 40 ounce Hydro Flask tumbler, on Sunday the Stanley 30 ounce Iceflow, and on Monday the Stanley Flowstate Quencher H2.0 30 and 40 ounce tumblers. Today, I’m declaring a winner to make the roadtrip with me. If I had been reviewing for another purpose, there may have been a different tumbler trophy awarded, but I know which will make my best travel companion.
For the past six months, my buddy has been the 40 ounce Hydro Flask that I bought on a Black Friday deal and have used daily. Before that, I carried a Yeti, and before that, a Tervis.
I was looking for a tumbler that is leakproof, that can get me through 3 or 4 hours without a refill, and that can keep ice cold overnight. I stuck to the name brands not because of their popularity on TikTok (which I don’t even watch), but because I tend to be very hard on shoes, bags, and cups and feel that name brands bring a durability that knockoffs don’t always offer. Plus, I have fond memories of Stanley since childhood when my grandfather took us camping in Fernandina Beach and drank coffee from his Stanley thermos all day. When he wasn’t on vacation, he took that thermos, with its side luggage-like handle, to work with him every day. Perhaps that’s why my heart leans toward Stanley products.
Before we were married, my husband and I would make a pot of coffee and fill our own green thermos for a long drive daytime date. We’d stop at a roadside food market to sit in rocking chairs and share a dessert and a cup of coffee from the lid that doubles as a cup.
Fond memories, indeed.
There was one clear winner as I searched for the best tumbler to take on my trip. It’s not without its weaker points, but its strengths catapulted it to the blue ribbon platform almost immediately for the purpose of traveling.
The traveling tumbler trophy goes to……
The 30 ounce Stanley Ice Flow Flip Straw Tumbler
This Pool Swirl beauty has a design that brings back the psychedelic 1970s and that woman dancing with the radiating colors all around her to Aquarius Let the Sunshine In by the Fifth Dimension. And what a fitting song – – all the aqua of aquarius, and the sun shining in, too.
This tumbler doesn’t leak when the lid is fastened correctly, it fits in both RAV-4 front seat cup holders, and even fits snugly down into the side pocket of my backpack. The non-bottlenecked lid makes adding ice a simple task. The handle pops up from the top and so does the straw, making it a more compact design than the Quencher model with the handles that can only be carried one way, unless you purchase the shoulder strap and make it like a purse.
The Hydro Flask and Quencher models both have their winning merits for different purposes; I’ll use the Quenchers for work and for drinking coffee, and the Hydro Flask for hiking when we go camping.
But the winner for compact travel for those needing high-tech hydration is the Stanley Ice Flow Flip Straw Tumbler!
Cheers to staying hydrated this summer with your favorite cup! And cheers to a great way to start the day with The Fifth Dimension!
The Fifth Dimension – Aquarius: Let the Sunshine In
Common Threads 