My Daddy gave me my wings, literally. He worked for Southern Airways, Republic Airlines, Northwest Airlines and Delta Airlines. We flew non-rev (Standby travel) from as far back as I can remember. This was during the time when we had to dress up and wear dresses and hosiery in order to fly free. I didn’t really care for that but when you get in first class as a little 8 yr old black girl, you wanted to look like you belonged there, and I did.
I took my first solo flight at 5 years old, pictured here in the red and white dress and my trusty red suitcase. I was only going to Memphis to be with my cousin for a few weeks during the summer but I cried like I was never coming home once my daddy left me on the plane and the door closed. It became easier and easier after that. My first international trip was to the Grand Cayman Islands. At the tender age of 8 I was snorkeling with my daddy in those clear, blue waters, not realizing what a privilege it was to do so.
I guess you could say I was kind of fearless back then. Things that probably should have scared me didn’t. Being exposed to the world by travel strips away your fears about people and places that may seem “foreign” or different from you.
Throughout my life, it was nothing for me to call my daddy and say I wanted to go somewhere. Before you know it, off we went. This story can’t be told without also talking about my mother! She gave me my sense of direction, travel smarts and fearlessness for traveling solo. She taught me how to read maps, ask questions when lost (which seems like common sense but it’s not very common).
In school I had a fascination with globes and maps. I would test myself on which countries I could recognize by sight. I became pretty good at it too! It was nothing for my parents to pull me out of school for a spontaneous vacation. They almost never left me behind. My parents wanted me to see the world and enjoy myself.
I see pictures now that fuels my wanderlust and before you know it I’m there! My ultimate dream would be to hit 195 countries. I’m almost ¼ of the way there and I’m halfway through my life…not sure if I’ll make it but I wouldn’t mind trying.
My early days of international travel were done by sea. Our family went on multiple cruises per year, so quite a few countries were one hit wonders but hey, they still count. I’ve been to 46 countries and all seven continents. My last being Antarctica in November 2022.
I’ve attacked my bucket list with reckless abandon. From seeing Mt. Everest with my own eyes, experiencing New Years Eve in Australia, going on Safari in Tanzania to live out my mother’s dream of seeing Africa and the “Big 5”, and living overseas in Thailand for 2 years, then living in Mexico for 3 months. If I set my sights on a location I’m going to go.
Those stories were of my early years of travel, some of my more adult travel has been just as memorable. I’ve been to five of the “7 Wonders of the World”, six if we count Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. I didn’t get that close to it but I saw it!
I’ve had good and bad experiences traveling, but who hasn’t? The only thing that matters is that I learned and grew from it. I’ve stayed in some wild and crazy places, done some wild and crazy things but it has done nothing but enriched my life.
My next dream is helping OTHER people realize their dreams by showing them that travel isn’t out of their reach. It’s not as expensive as one thinks it is with a little elbow grease, knowing a few travel hacks, and a little freedom in your schedule for work and life, you too can live your travel dreams!
