My dad is incredible. Even after long days of working at his two businesses, my dad is still able to tell hilarious jokes at the dinner table, watch immense amounts of History Chanel and CNN specials, and take me and my sister Sabrina on mini-trips. These father-daughter vacations, usually a ski trip in the spring and road trip in the summer, have been the highlight of my childhood and young adulthood. My dad has never passed up an opportunity to take me and Sabrina on an adventure. He once said to me, "My parents gave me the travel bug, and I hope I've given it to you too."
I'm from Dallas, Texas, so retreating to the rural South or the Rocky Mountains is always a nice escape from the city's hustle and bustle. While I do enjoy luxurious and touristy vacations with my extended family around the U.S. and Europe, there’s something special about the down-to-earth, no-frills trips that I embark on with my dad and sister. While camping or horseback riding, I never worry about fixing my hair, putting on makeup, or wearing nice clothes. I can focus solely on the activities we’ve planned and making new memories with my family — I can focus on the important things. I’m so lucky to have a dad who places such high importance on travel because each trip results in new memories, experiences, and lessons.
Camping
My dad signed me and Sabrina up for the YMCA Indian Princess program in kindergarten, and we went on camping trips with our tribe until the end of eighth grade, a few years longer than normal because we had so much fun together. I was always challenged on these trips: I trotted for the first time while horseback riding, I learned how to make the perfect s’more (golden brown with eight squares of chocolate, four on each graham cracker), I shot a rifle and bow and arrow, I caught fish and attempted to scoop up minnows in a solo cup (it never worked), I made candles and stamped leather.
One of the campsites, Camp Champions, had an obstacle course that I was so excited to try, but it turned out to be one of the most challenging activities for me. As soon as I took a few steps across that wire, my stomach dropped and I wanted get down immediately. I cried when my dad said the only choice was to finish. As my little legs shook and I grabbed my harness for support, it took me another ten minutes to walk only a few steps further to the end. I learned to be brave and conquer my fears.
Horseback Riding
Horseback riding has always been one of my favorite activities. We rode monthly during YMCA campouts, but now it’s a bi-yearly activity that we squeeze in during road trips and vacations in Colorado, Los Angeles, and Palm Springs. When I was in eighth grade, my dad took me and Sabrina to a ranch an hour outside Dallas. He called earlier that week and signed up for the advanced class. Sabrina and I both love to trot, canter, and gallop, and we were looking forward to riding a little faster than normal.
Before we knew it, the trail ride was over, and we arrived back at the stables without having made it faster than a walk. I was so distracted as I looked at the surrounding land, full with brush, trees, and little streams, that I didn’t even realize we hadn’t trotted or cantered. Normally I would have been upset, but this time I was happy with the relaxing ride -- I could think and enjoy the view. I found out that life doesn’t always work out as planned, and that’s not always a bad thing.
Skiing
Skiing with my dad is always an unforgettable experience. We hit the slopes right when they open and ski until we’re all hungry for dinner. I personally enjoy skiing on blue and black slopes, but Sabrina and my dad love the black diamonds and double black diamonds. I’m always up for a challenge, but I don’t particularly enjoy skiing moguls and slopes that are so steep and icy that I can’t look down without feeling like I’m about to fall off a cliff. Nevertheless, I ski down the difficult ones every year and end up having fun. Last February, in Breckenridge, Colorado, it took me so long to get down the mountain that Sabrina thought she was lost or that my dad and I left her behind.
And then, when I finally got to the bottom, my dad and Sabrina said in unison, “Let’s do it again!” This time was worse, as I fell on my left side and slid down ice for 20 feet or so. Then the challenge was to get back onto my feet and somehow make it down unscathed. My dad promised to watch me from above to make sure I was safe. I wiped off my tears, hiked up my pants, and skied to the bottom, slowly but surely. I learned to stand up after I’d been pushed down.
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center
Two weeks ago, my dad, Sabrina and I drove to Glen Rose, Texas, to visit the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. It was a long drive, and my dad kept asking me if I wanted to watch a movie to occupy myself. Normally I would be watching "Finding Nemo," or "Legally Blonde," my go-to road trip movies, but this time I just wanted to watch the trees and cattle pass by as we drove along. I’ve outgrown that stage where I pause the movie every 30 minutes to ask, “Are we there yet?” Although I was excited to feed the deer, zebras, and giraffes that would approach our car, I was also happy to be en route and sitting unoccupied, imagining what it would be like to have grown up in the tiny towns that we passed at 70 mph. I remembered that I don’t always need technology to entertain myself.
I can't thank my dad enough for the lessons learned throughout our travels. My adventurous father is such a blessing in my life, and I will remember each and every trip fondly.
I look forward to more trips with you, daddy-o. You sure have given me the travel bug.
