Christmas IsTraveling Time For Many
It’s that time of year again, time to reunite with our scattered families-the emotional pull is strong, the drumbeat is insistent
It’s almost Christmas time, and many of us are going to feel that primeval urge, that emotional craving, to travel to visit far-flung relatives. The heart is a lonely hunter. We all crave to be with the people we love on these special holidays, to be reunited once again.
For many of us, it may well be the only time we can gather together with our extended families for the entire year. We are an ingenious species, and we will find ways to overcome any difficulties that lie in our way.
We will fly across the country from one end to the other, we will drive hundreds of miles to be reunited once again. There are no obstacles too great, no barriers that can’t be overcome. Where there is a will, there is a way.
The emotional drive and the opportunity to be with our extended family during the Christmas week is a strong one. We want to be with the people we love on the traditional holidays that we all look forward to.
We want to recreate the happier memories of childhood as we remember them. We seek the visible proof and tangible evidence of that same emotional warmth, that welcoming feeling of being enveloped in love and the security of being with family once again.
We want to feast together on old family recipes, to taste mom’s or grandma’s home-style cooking again. We want to hug each other and kiss each other just like we used to.
We want to chat with each other, catch up on all the family comings and goings, exchange gossip, and share secrets. Christmas is the perfect opportunity for that.
Tempus fugit-time flies. It is an old Latin proverb that the ancient Romans used, but it hardly applies to the crush of the modern-day airport over the holidays.
The Romans built the greatest road system in the ancient world, but they never dreamed of flying to their destinations. It was technology that just hadn’t been discovered yet.
Many people remember the Little House of Horrors weather system that stranded thousands of people at airports for most of the Christmas season last year.
Southwest Airlines was hit the hardest and penalized $104 million by the Department of Transportation for the gigantic snafu that ruined the Christmas experience for so many people last year.
Other airlines were also overwhelmed by the combination of an unexpected amount of passengers and inadequate planning but it should not be as big of a problem this year.
Airfares, in general, will be lower than last year, if that helps you make your decision
If there are any questions, try calling 1–800-WX-BRIEF for the latest updates on the weather and flight updates for your trip.
The Romans were restricted to chariots of various sizes and walking to get together with their families over the holidays. This year, most Americans will be traveling by car, the modern-day equivalent of chariots, to visit with their families.
Some things never change.
An estimated 115 million people will be hitting the roads this weekend to gather together with their extended families for the Christmas through New Year holiday.
Most are expected to travel at least 50 miles from their homes to their destinations.
This is an increase of nearly 2% over last year, according to AAA projections, the 2nd highest in the last 23 years. The continuing drop in gas prices will result in the same gas prices, between about $3.10-$3.20 a gallon, the same as last year.
So however you plan to travel to be reunited with your loved ones, take advantage of the modern technology we all have at our fingertips to make your trip smoother.
There are always risks and rewards, but we can mitigate the worst situations by planning and checking flight information frequently before your departure.
Travel can be a hassle, but you can’t expect to get from here to there without any inconveniences. It will all be worth it once you arrive.
Time is fleeting. We only live once. We are all connected…
