Often times experiences in life can be fantastic reminders of how blessed we are.
I’m writing this blog entry aboard a bus traveling Interstate 195 West from Cape Cod, Mass., to Providence, R.I. It’s a long day of travel; I hit the road at 10:30 a.m. and have already been in a cab, aboard a boat, on a bus and will still fly from Providence through Baltimore to Cleveland before arriving home around 8 tonight. But I’m certainly not complaining.
It’s because of phenomenal friends and family, and a flexible employer, that I was able to witness some of the most beautiful destinations in the United States the past few days. Without Melissa’s support and trust, five days away from home clearly wouldn’t have been possible. Without great friends like Schwab, Emily, Erin and Dan (among others), the opportunity to crash on Nantucket Island for two nights wouldn’t have existed.
My trip started out business-related on Tuesday, when I landed in Boston and checked into the Fairmont Copley Plaza to moderate two discussions on the changing entertainment environment in the hotel guestroom. It was a successful business trip; I met a handful of important IT executives that I can call on as sources down the road, moderated two lively panels and wrote two stories for my new outlet, HotelNewsNow.com.
When I wrapped up with my responsibilities Thursday, I proceeded to conduct some thorough research on the possibility and affordability of extending the trip to join friends in Nantucket. Emily (Schwab’s daughter) lives on the island and Melissa and I were invited to her wedding on Friday night, but for financial reasons we regretfully declined. The fact that I was already in Boston and could change my flight for a minimal fee presented a new opportunity. After a bus from Boston to Hyannis and a ferry to Nantucket, I arrived at one of coolest places on the East Coast.
I usually reserve the word “beautiful” for my wife (or for PNC Park on a sunny Sunday afternoon). But there really isn’t a better adjective to describe the compilation of scenery and events over the past two days in Nantucket. The seafood was as fresh as you’d expect; the rental home was enormous and immaculate; downtown Nantucket was quaint and friendly; Emily’s wedding in the back yard of a giant home perched above the Atlantic Ocean was incredibly scenic and elegant.
Traveling, making new acquaintances and experiencing lifestyles from different pockets of the country can be very educational and fulfilling. More importantly, it can remind us to truly value what we have at home.
