Buongiorno, Italy!
I’m taking a dream trip with my mom and leaving the husband at home, and it’s all thanks to my dad…Who I’ll never get to thank.
This is our second mother-daughter trip together. Tomorrow, Mom is leaving the boyfriend at home and I’m leaving the husband here.
It’s just us, a small church group, and a pocket-sized translation book.
Taking a trip with my mom was never a routine thing, but we have started to talk about it being a more frequent occurrence and why not? I’m close with my mother, we have a lot in common, I love her very much, and I know I am going to lose her one day. So, I want to cherish our memories together and this is going to be one of them.
My father (my mom’s ex-husband) died last year a few days before Christmas. It was tough on the family. I was not as close to my dad as I am with my mom, but it doesn’t mean I didn’t love him. We all knew with his failing health that his time left with us was going to be short. Still, nothing can prepare you for losing a parent.
I recall flying home to the Midwest to help see the family through a scare that landed him in the hospital but was recovering. While I was there, we had to have the candid discussion with my dad if he has made his…arrangements…
You know the kind I’m talking about?
“How do you want to be buried?”
“Is your will up to date?”
All the tough ones that no one really wants to talk about. However, they need to happen and — to be honest — not a lot of people are lucky enough to get that opportunity and are often ripped from our lives unexpectedly.
My dad seemed at peace with the arrangements he already prepared and just a few month later, he died.
He was very upfront with my sisters and me and that everything was going to be left with his Life Partner. We respected his wishes, understood, and honored his final requests.
About six month later — to our surprise — my sisters and I got a letter in the mail that my dad did actually leave us with something. I am not sure if he forgot he had this still listed to pass to us or if he did it on purpose. Either way, it was perfect timing.
My younger sister greatly needed it at the time to help her get caught up on some car maintenance. It helped my older sister purchase a larger camper so she can start being a full-time RVer (a dream my father also had).
Me? I had no idea what to do with this unexpected amount of money. So, I put it in my savings account and thought about it.
One day, my mom called me to let me know that her church group was going to try again to go to Italy since it was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID. She asked if I’d like to go with her.
My first thought was, “OMG, Italy!” then dollar signs started flashing in my mind. Then I remembered the money that my dad left to me was still sitting in my account, untouched.
Suddenly my decision to use it became easy. It felt like the right thing to do. I believe in my heart that my dad would want me to take this trip with my mom. I feel like he wants me to make memories with her and this was his way to help me do it.
My dad and I had some major differences and some rocky pasts together. However, my dad has always made it clear that he wanted to see me happy and live a full (and adventurous) life.
This trip with my mom meets all that criteria.
When I board the plane with my mom, I know I am going to feel that my Dad is also going to be sitting next to me. That first glass of vino, I’ll be secretly toasting to him.
I hope he can hear my when I say, “Thank you for helping me with this opportunity. I miss you, Dad.”
If you’re interested in seeing how my adventure in Italy unfolds, I recommend following me on my Instagram! I am sure there will be pictures galore!
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