Always travel with…

Me at 2 years old on a black sand beach in Hawaii.

I started traveling with my parents when I was just a baby. I was not even a year old when my parents took me with them to the Bahamas. Upon trying to leave the country my parents were asked if they had a passport for me, they did not (not needed at that time). The Bahamian officials wanted to know how they could prove I was their daughter, meanwhile I was screaming and crying my head off. My mother’s solution was to offer me to them, she said “Here, you can have her” holding me out to them as I screamed and carried on. The officials said, “No, no, no ma’am.” and let them leave with me! I am a much better traveling companion now. My parents loved to travel and inspired my love of travel. They each had one life and travel lesson for me that has stuck with me for over thirty years.

My mother’s travel advice was to always have a current passport, as “you never know when someone will want to take you to Paris!”. Of course, that has yet to happen. But I always have a current passport, just in case.

My father’s travel advice to me was to always pack a bathing suit, you never know when there will be an opportunity to swim. Of course, in this age of traveling you can almost always know if there is a pool where you are going. No matter the distance or length of trip I bring a bathing suit. And on the rare occasions when I have traveled without one, I have always regretted it.

So make sure to keep your passport up to date and pack your bathing suit!