I cannot say enough good things about Rome! To repeat an earlier phrase, Rome is a spectacular outdoor museum putting history, art, and beauty within the reach of ordinary people on ordinary days. It’s there all the time. All a person has to do is open their eyes. In the last twenty years, Italy has done a marvelous and deliberate job preserving its beautiful relics for today and for generations to come. In addition to the Vatican and the Basilica that people of all faiths respect and consider holy, and the nearly 3,000 year-old ruins that once were heart of the Roman empire, Rome is also graced with natural beauty; that tremendous periwinkle sky, the golden sunsets, the tall umbrella pines, and the gigantic flocks of black starlings that put on a fluid, ballet-like show high in the sky every evening as they gather to roost. Rome is a world-wow; indeed, a beautiful, magical place.
Now, though, our 6th storybook recording another long adventure is closing . . . but what a journey! France to England, then Ireland, Wales, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Palestine, and finally to Italy! Every day brought a new pleasure: wonderful, kind people, daughters’ visits, tiny roads maneuvered, and random visits from neighbor cats and cows. Some days opened our eyes and minds to new sights and new understanding. Our hearts were touched on some days; some even brought us to our knees, but every day was one in which we felt enormously fortunate to awake rested and ready for more.
I think the best part of this story is that after more than four years of full-time travel, Stan and I still relish this kind of life and truly enjoy being with each other, even though we are side by side together, 24 hours each and every day. Oh yes, don’t be confused. Of course, there have been times when one of us considered parting and putting an end to this story for good, and clearly announced those intentions to the other. Adding a bit of drama, those situations sometimes occurred on a busy street corner with an audience of people passing by. At the moment, we didn’t care. But over the years, Stan and I have grown up. We’ve graduated. Seldom do we act on emotion anymore. Both of us finally learned to give a hot moment a little time to cool. Soon thereafter, we remember that we adore each other. And we do.
Why do I go into this? Because there are few couples who spend exactly all day, every day, I repeat, every day together, often within 10 feet of each other at the farthest, and still manage to be in love, have interesting conversations, and frequently smile and laugh together even after 51 years. . . at least so far. We are ever so grateful for that.
It was a bit melancholy leaving Rome, this magnificent, ancient source of civilization. Our leaving marked the end of our 2025, eight-month adventure. Yes, it is a bit sad because it marks time and forces us to realize how fast time and thus our lives merely evaporate. In this trip, we delighted in having visits from friends from home and other places: Barry and Reto from Switzerland, Mary and Greg, Gail and Chuck from Georgia, and Carol Ann and Marvin from Arkansas. Being with those we’ve known for so long made us feel connected and at home. And oh, those special visits from daughters!!! With Cody’s visit, we loved our time together exploring the beauty of Sicily, and like us, she is an eager and adventurous travel partner, fully engaged in seeing the world. Then, there were the three rollicking visits with us from Shea in France, Malta, and in Rome. Shea is determined to see the world with us and vowed to visit us multiple times each year. Her visits are always fun. To bring up a vintage phrase, “that girl is a barrel of monkeys!”
Boarding the plane in a nonstop flight to Atlanta also excited us. We knew we’d get to spend time with Cody, sweet Cody, and her dogs that we call our grands. A short trip to California to touch base with Shea and Tessa may be on the horizon. We willl get to meet the newest member of the family, Will, a very precocious black kitty, and we’ll certainly joyfully reunite with dear friends and family.
Look for us again as we kick off 2026 in the Golden Triangle of India, but before that new journey begins, let us all settle in and enjoy the grace and hope of Christmas. Stan and I send warmest, sincere wishes to you for a very happy Christmas with your dearest ones and a new year filled with hope, happiness, and blessed strength and good health.
Sending love!
Welcome home dear loved ones! Remind me again when you’ll be in Arkansas?
I love you both dearly and hug and kiss Cody for me and tell her Aunt Lissa loves and missed her!
Hello my sweet, sweet sister! Thank you! We are glad to be home and our timing was right. Cody’s big black beautiful, 8-year-old Leroy Brown was diagnosed with cancer five months ago and given an estimate of three months to live. He waited for us and was happy to see us Wednesday night. We loved on him and loved on him as much as possible every chance we got. He was still eating and drinking. He was brave and tried to be well but we could tell the end was going to be soon. Cody loved him so much . . . and so did we. He was her boy and he was our grand dog. Yesterday, Cody got upset and just prayed Lord heal him or take him! He passsed early this morning with all of us around him. Of course, it was heart-wrenching but he was a good boy and is with Nolie and all the other good boys and good girls who passed through this world.
I will give your love to Cody. I don’t have our calendar in front of me right now but I think we arrive 12/29 and go back to ATL on 1/3. It is going to be a quick one. Tell me when you and your family is available and we will make that happen. I love you all so very much. One more note, did you see that Kayla Latting is back on FB?? She has a beautiful little son about four.
I love you so much!!!!
It was beaucoups of fun to see ya’ll in Paris; now we get to visit with you soon here in Georgia. Merry Christmas, you two crazy people! Love ya!
Go, go until ou can’t anymore. Bill and I traveled a lot, but now are burdened with his health problems.
That was a beautiful wrap up. We wish you a wonderful stay back home and look forward to traveling with you in the new year! 🤗
Hi Sharyl, and happy new year! Again, I thank you for your kind comments. Our holidays have been nice but not the best. Somewhere along the line I pickup up the flu bug and it has been a bear! Currently I’m on my 11th day and still cannot kick it. I was tested for RSV, Covid and Flu type A & B. I was told that Flu Shots this year targeted Type B. Naturally, I and many others contracted Type A. Mine was so awful, I thought I might have pneumonia. Chest x-ray said no. However, if all goes as planned we will start the next advenyture late February in India, then on to Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and western China. Should be exciting! We’ll spend the rest of the trip in the far East, staying about a month in each country. Hope you guys are well and happy. I hope you’ll share details about your latest Rhodes Scholar trip. Take care . . . and I still hope to met you in person some day.
Oh no! I am so sorry that you got the awful flu that has been all over the news. I surely hope that you can crawl your way back to health really soon.
We so look forward to following you on your next travels since we have not been in that part of the world. We are lazy travelers, so that is one reason why we like Road Scholar because accommodations, tours, meals are all planned out for us. Foremost though is the wonderful education that we receive throughout the trip, And yes, we must meet one day, Janie! For now, just get yourself well. ❤️
Oh you sweet lady! I am well! My version of flu was a doozy but I am well now and so is Stan. He never contracted it from me. I don’t know how! I would feel so guilty if he had. I hope you two are well too and warm! We are still in Atlanta, enjoying ourselves, spending time with friends and family. Our next adventure begins on February 21. I will write as soon as I can. Meanwhile, endure and enjoy winter!
Chuck and I have truly enjoyed traveling vicariously with you and Stan this year (except when we were blessed to actually catch up with you in Paris, which was so very special)! We look forward to seeing India on your nickel and wish you and your family a blessed Christmas season! Love, the Kinneys
Hi Gail,
I am so sorry to be so late in responding to you! Yes, indeed, wasn’t it wonderful to see each other in Paris??? It was a bit surreal, don’t you think? And, we’ll gladly share India and Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan and China with you this year. If you can see my reponse to Sharyl below, you’ll see that I have been sick, sick, sick since the day after Christmas! I am doing everything I can to get better soon so Ill be strong enough to make the next exciting trip! But this bug has been pretty awful!! Stan and I send virtual hugs, but no germs!!
Love you both! Do take care!
Oh, Janie . . . I am so sorry to hear that you’ve caught the awful bug that’s going around! Hopefully by now you’re on the other side of it! Wishing you a full recovery and another year of wonderful travels! As in the past, Chuck and I will enjoy traveling vicariously with you and Stan and are really excited about India! It’ll be a fun adventure! Hugs, Gail