Back in the 90′s when daughter #1 turned 16, I thought it was time for us to take a trip together. Around the same time a colleague and her husband had been transferred by his company to Port of Spain, Trinidad. We corresponded the year she was away, and she invited us to visit. She didn’t know anyone there. Trinidad sounded lovely. It was a place we had never been. What an opportunity I thought, so I took her up on her invitation. It had been a hard year, our daughter’s sophomore year…as a high school teacher I had anticipated that…sophomore year is tough. My good friend, a former teacher and counselor understood and welcomed us with loving arms.
My passport was in order, but daughter #1′s had to be renewed quickly. We waited in line at a government building in Houston one morning, and we secured it the very next day! I couldn’t believe it…yes, our government is at work. This trip was in the making. I had only decided on it in May and by the first week of June we were there!
It all happened “lickety-split”.
At the airport my daughter was excited to notice that Hakeem Olajuwon, a Houston Rockets basketball player was boarding the plane with us. He went to first class, we took our seats in coach. As we took our seats, she reached for a little book she had brought to read on the plane. Her school had created a small book of quotable quotes that each teacher had contributed. The very first quote she found was “The baskets you don’t score, are the ones you don’t shoot.” “You’ve got to get Hakeem’s autograph on that page,” I encouraged. She got out of her seat, went up the aisle into first class and did just that before the plane took off.
So far so good. That was a good sign.
“Mom, now where are we going?” Everything had happened so fast. All I had told her was we were visiting Mrs. R and her husband in the Caribbean, but exactly where, I didn’t know. It had been the end of the school year for her and for me too, and I hadn’t even given that a thought. I knew it was tropical. I was certain we would have adventures…why, she had already gotten Hakeem’s autograph! The prospect of visiting my friend and a chance to get away with my daughter were the only things I had considered.
So I reached for the airline magazine looking for a map. “Oh my goodness,” I gasped. We’re practically going to South America! I knew Trinidad was a Caribbean Island, but I didn’t know it was just a few miles off the coast of Venezuela!
Our adventure continued on the plane. There was another celebrity! Miss Trinidad-Tobago was also, on the flight and she had just won the Miss Universe pageant the month before! I was so grateful, this impromptu trip was turning out better than anything I could have planned.
Hours into our flight, flying over the islands below us, the captain pointed out Guadeloupe, Martinique and Barbados. Inside the plane, a colorful figure went to the front of our cabin and began entertaining us with songs and his portable tin-pan. The adventure continued!
When we landed, it was great to see the familiar face of my friend and her husband. We made our way to the car, and her husband suggested that my friend and I sit in the back seat, and my daughter sit in the front seat. She immediately went to the front right door upon which Mr. R handed her the car keys. “What?” She was clearly confused. “Well, if you take that seat you’ll be driving,” he laughed. This island followed the protocol of driving on the left side of the road and their car was English. He drove.
My daughter at our friend's house in Trinidad georgettesullins.wordpress.com
The days went by quickly. We went into Port of Spain and visited the Queen’s Park Oval, the National Museum, Fort George, the Gingerbread House, walked past the President’s House, the Queen’s Park Savannah and of course, we went shopping! We spent a day at Macaras Beach on the north end of the island. My daughter’s souvenirs for her friends were photographs of their names written in the sands of the beach.
Our final day of touristing, my friend took us to the art studio of Llanos and Maigot. Llanos created charming sculptures of rural life in Trinidad. I picked up two small ones for us and managed to secretly purchase a grand piece, “The Hibiscus House” for our friends as a thank you for hosting us. Right before we left for the airport for our return flight, I left it upstairs on our bed rather than present it to her…I didn’t want to run the risk of her insisting that we keep it. And so we left for the airport without a hitch saying good-bye to the memories that were meant to be.
Fruit Stand, Trinidad, Llanos and Maigot, georgettesullins.wordpress.com
Cannon by well, Trinidad, Llanos and Maigot, georgettesullins.wordpress.com
Oh, what a wonderful trip you and your daughter had!! Perfect to have Hakeem autograph the page with that quote.
Interestingly, I noticed the other day that I had a blog viewer from Trinidad. Marshall keeps up with my “world map”, and told me that it was off the coast of Venezuala.
Thanks for sharing your trip with us!
It was a great trip and the fact that we would be with friends made it even more inviting. btw Your comment just made #3500!
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful trip with us, Georgette!
Thank you for reading, Elyse. The trip went without a hitch. However, I do remember in Miami, we actually boarded the wrong plane. It was my daughter who figured it out as we sat in our seats bound for Curacao. We got right past the ticket agent and flight attendants. My daughter reminds me of that “Remember when we got on the wrong plane?” Luckily we got off and found our correct flight. I’m so glad, I’m writing this story instead.
What a wonderful trip! It sounds fantastic.
It was a great trip. Thank you for visiting UILLL. I enjoyed your post on Greece…good advice!
Some of our most amazing and beautiful adventures came as a surprise. They also came when we least expect it. Your daughter’s words made me smile. I remember my son asking me on the plane, “dad, where is the Philippines? How far is it?” I simply told him, it’s a place where it’s always fun. And I was right. Just before we left, he told his cousins, “I want to live in the Philippines.” It broke my heart a bit when I heard it. He said what my heart was wanting to say. Beautiful post. Take care and best wishes to you and your love ones.
Your son’s questions make me smile. What an awesomely wonderful opportunity we have to raise our children to experience things outside of their daily routine! You and I have traveled enough to know, that wherever we go, adventure awaits. To cultivate wonder, nurture the anticipation of the surprise waiting around the next corner were things we included on our “parenting” list in addition to food, shelter, education. Food? Try something different. Shelter? We can find that in a friend’s loving arms. Education? Love and learn about this wonderful world we live in. Thank you again for visiting and understanding.
There’s something so wistful about the type of travel you described — being delighted by the experience, right down to who was on the plane and what you flew over on your way there. Now we know so much, almost too much, about our destinations. Sometimes the adventure lies just as much in experiencing the “getting there” as it is in the “being” there.
Thank you for sharing a wonderful memory that made me smile – I’m sure it did you and your daughter, too.
MJ
Thank you, thank you for getting it! It wasn’t about the destination as much as it was wishing a memorable trip for her. Ok, ok, I’ll say it here…not in the post. My daughter had experienced unjust, and horrible acts of bullying…so bad that we enlisted the help of understanding administrators to change her school, which was granted. All I wanted for her and me was a real change of scenery. We got it and I will always be grateful for my friend who yes, received us with loving arms. Wistful, yes. Funny other commenters on previous posts use the same adjective in describing my writing. “Life is a journey, not a destination” we’ve heard many times. I know with confidence what can positively be. Thank you for reading and commenting, friend. It means a lot.
sounds like a great trip – especially to share with your daughter. love the doorway of their home. so pretty.
Thank you for reading, Theresa. I like that door because it is so similar to the doorway of my uncle’s home in Mexico City. Not only was it a good pic of her, it took me back to wonderful times and other adventures visiting my uncle.
Rare is it that I find myself saying (about any blog entry!), “Why isn’t this longer?” I’m absolutely saying this now, as I wish there were about another 4,000 words of this entry. Please tell me there will be a part two with even more pictures?
What a treat to read this!
Deb, thank you for responding so positively. Yes, there is so much more to this story, before and after. I just wrote about the middle. Seriously, you can read my comment to MJ to learn the before…which perhaps further explains a comment I made regarding bullying on your site. The after…is still being written as recently as my post “Still looking for a hat trick”. On the lighter side, it was terribly overcast all the days we were there, so every picture appears gray. The pictures I brought home were film, not digital…it was the 90′s.
Truly, I am so intrigued by your reaction. I try to remain positive in my entries, and you my friend, sense more…and yes, honestly, there was so much more to this story.
What a great trip to share with you daughter. I am sure she will remember it as something very special as long as she lives. When you travel you never know what can happen, and that’s is the beauty of travelling.
Thank you, Otto. Traveling is a journey…not a destination. As much as you travel, I know you understand.
You’re so adventurous!
And so are you! Your posts always promise a “Try it, you’ll like it!”
Good thing your daughter noticed the plane mix-up, and you were still able to get the right one! I love the Providence that so many details were tended to, answering your heart’s desires for your daughter. Love the sculptures, too.
Yes, Providence was with us. It was a memorable trip. Thank you for reading.
Awesome trip! I was able to take two trips to Miami for football games with my son when he was younger. They are trips I will never forget. I know you will never forget this one, either. I am glad to have met you.
Tim
Thank you for dropping in, Tim. Trips whether planned or not, roll or play out nicely. It’s good to get away.
What a wonderful trip you had with your daughter! Sounds like it was not just exciting but also rewarding. Several years ago when we lived in the Midwest, our church pastor and his wife were originally from Trinidad. I too didn’t realize how far away it was from the US until I looked it up on a map. We still have fond memories of this wonderful man and some of his stories from his homeland. I will always remember tasting plantains for the first time at their home.
Thank you for reading. I’m glad for the time now to remember and write it down. Plantains, or “tostones” in Venezuela, are very tasty.
Wow! Another awesome memory shared of a venture elsewhere & all the things you saw & did … what a great adventure with your daughter … wonderful memories! Thank you for sharing!! XO
Thanks, Patrice. I remember it so well.
What a wonderful experience you two shared! Love the sculptures and the picture of your beautiful daughter in front of the exquisite doors of your friend’s home!
It was a unique and memorable trip. Thank you for reading.
Mother – daughter trips are definitely special. Your beautiful memory reminds me of trips taken with my mother. Thanks for sharing this.
You’ll have to write about a trip with your mother. Sounds so interesting. Thank you for reading this.
My favorite part of your tale is the souvenir-in-sand your daughter created for each of her friends. We all know what incoming tides do to such inscriptions, of course, but that isn’t always bad. I hope the tides of events and memories helped to erase some of the unhappiness that had been etched into her life.
Thank you, Linda. You know that was my hope, too.
Wow, Georgette — what an adventure! Sounds perfect. Your daughter is very lucky, indeed, and as she was 16, I bet she remembers so many amazing things about that trip. What a blessing, for you to get away to see your friend, mother-daughter style. You sure have your priorities straight, my friend! I can hear the vibrant music in my head. Lovely.
Thank you, Melissa. I’m so glad we made that trip. It was memorable on many levels: friends, trends, culture. Whew…we fit a lot in a week.
What a trip. And to be able to take it with your daughter in such a beautiful place. Truly a blessing. It’ll be somethng both of you will carry forever.
Trinidad is a lovely island. Had my friend not invited us, I don’t think I would have ever made it a destination. So glad daughter and I discovered it together. I was glad I could take her to some place I didn’t know…to kind of level the playing field for her.
Just fantastic! I wish my daughter would go somewhere with just me these days. This makes me want to ask her!! Thank you!
Yes, surprise her! Tell her, “We’re going to X, just you and me.” Then maybe the magic will unfold like with daughter #1 and me. It was fun.
Yes, do it! Adventure awaits.
What a fabulous trip! And your daughter is gorgeous, just like her mamacita!
Thank you, Susan. I wanted to write this down for the family book, too. Luck was with us that trip. However, I wish I had better pictures worthy of posting. It was so overcast and I used film rather than digital back then. She does look like a Texas blonde…doesn’t she? And now she’s in CA. I do miss her and grandson.
Oh, so far away, Georgette! I know how you feel.
What a gesture, Georgette. What a great way to bond, build memories and be an example. You do things so well.
Thank you for reading, Amy. It was in my heart to get away, leave behind a difficult school year, and then the adventures started to unfold. It was not until my 40′s I relinquished “control” and this trip was one where another power took over to take care of daughter and me. I was so grateful. Really, I can’t take credit.
What a lovely Mom and daughter story. I love how you got on the plane without a clue of where you were going just that it was going to be warm, and you were going to see a good friend!
I also love the gifts your daughter gave her friends.
You know it was your “Do you know where Guadeloupe is?” question that made this bubble up.
Thank you for the inspiration and so glad you read the post that followed your question.
*pant* *pant* *pant* … I’m out of breath. The first time I read this post, I was interrupted before i could comment. I came back several times – reading it again, and again interrupted before I could comment.
NOW. Before the day gets away from me, I am here.
I loved this post, Georgette. Good for you for taking your daugther on a trip – just the two of you. Lifelong memories made to be shared time and time again. Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful!
It was the only way I knew to react to our year…read my comments to MJ and Deb. So glad you could read this.
I do think your post today is very brave. Please know I have read it several times and it’s staying with me…haunting me …as a mother. And as a mother “love you no matter what.”
I went back and read your response … I get it.