Traveling across country or for a long haul is exciting and full of adventure, but it’s connecting with people along your journey that brings the “heart” to travel. Especially when you visit people you know and haven’t seen in a while.
While on an RV trip we connected with a professional contact of Al’s. They had kept in touch since retiring, and Bob invited us to park our RV on property at their Belgrade, Montana home. When our travels took us through Wyoming, we seized the opportunity to head north to see Bob, his wife Shirley and their dog Molly. It was a first time meeting for all us of except Bob and Al. It was a highlight of our journey for the friendship and comradery we shared, and since that first visit, we have stopped at their Montana home a number of times.
In 2014, Al and I took a cross-country trip from Southern California to New England. And again, we made a significant departure from our original travel plan in order to see an old friend.
A brief back story is needed here. Earlier in the year, Al, a Vietnam Veteran, received a letter out of the blue from a fellow army soldier he served with in country. Al and Don “Bovine” spoke a few times, and since our trip put us on the East coast, we decided our route should include a stop in Tennessee to visit Don.
After 46 years, Al and Don stood there in Don’s driveway embraced in a bear hug. I snapped this photo, marveling at the fact that these two men last locked eyes while standing in dangerous times in Chu Chi, Vietnam. It was several days into our visit before they began reminiscing, comparing and sharing stories from those times.
While in Memphis, Don took us to Graceland, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and some of his favorite places. In Don, I understood what people mean when they speak of a “Southern Gentlemen.” Getting an insider’s tour of Tennessee and our week spent with Don was something we’ll never forget.
In all the years since his service in Vietnam, Al has never sought to find comrades from those times. Some things, he believes, are better left in the past. However, after nearly five decades, to share a Welcome Home hug with this brother was simply, priceless!
A travel plan is fluid. Whether a departure from your intended route takes you a state or a coast out of your way, reconnecting with special people from your past along your journey can make the difference between a good trip and a great, good-for-the-soul adventure you will never forget!
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