One Way Ticket

We arrived back at our starting point of travels after exactly 5 months. November 17, 2024 to April 17, 2025, arriving tired and out of shape. Your comments to our posts were reassuring and encouraging. One of the first things which Louise did in the morning, was to read aloud the comments received from you all. So we never felt like we were “out there“ all on our own. We felt connected to our caring support team. “Mission control, we have a go.”

We suspect it will take some weeks or maybe months to notice if and how we have been changed by the travels or to notice what we may be doing a bit differently than prior to the trip. Also, we recognize that creating a mindful scenario for the future is dubious given the current political powers. So we ask ourselves “now what“. We simply have not an answer. Hopefully an answer will come in its own time.

For now, the answer is to live with gratitude for the experiences of our one-way adventure, for having friends and family and for every day small blessings. We are getting back into the Eau Claire orbit by putting together a calendar of music and theater, paying our taxes, making medical appointments, grocery shopping, fixing a leak in a water pipe, getting ready items for the thrift sale and enjoying the coming of spring and most of all meeting you all again. And how serendipitous this return is to begin again here in Eau Claire on Easter weekend, a time associated with rebirth, renewal, and the celebration of life.

As they say,

“much aloha” (Hawaii)

“ next time” (East Africa)

“no worries”mate (Australia)

Chuck and Louise