Who knew?
I have very few pics of the 3 of us in the past couple of years.. here is one I took in our back yard, the day before I left for Manitoba for the Summer of 2024. Jorg, her cat Murphy, Jado, his dog Fynn, and myself. Our little Familia.
Here I sit, on my flight to Tokyo, Japan. It is October 16, 2024. The last time I blogged was January 2021. What happened? Not sure about you, but covid messed my world. For me, nothing went back to how it was. 40 pounds up and all!!… UGH. Covid was not kind. I had not remembered about this blog until now. Covid was a long slumber from which I am slowly awakening, back to my adventurous self.
But before Tokyo, it seemed the only order of business for me since the world shut down in March of 2020, has been work, work, and more work. In the Spring of 2024, I agreed to take on the role as General Manager of the largest RV park in Manitoba, called Grand Palms RV Resort. My dad is an owner there, and they needed help. This past summer has proven to be one of the most intense of my life. Working 18 hour days, 7 days per week has taken its’ toll. Including minimal interaction with my kiddos. Jado, now 21 and Jorg (Jorgia, goes by Jorg - pronounced George), is now 19. At least I can say I can see results from all the hours put in.
Imagine, when it was determined that I would move to Winnipeg for 6 months for the GM role at Grand Palms, how it would change my children’s lives. I have predominantly been the one adult in their lives consistently, day in and day out, come hell or high water from the time they were 5 and 7. It was certainly like pulling the rug out from underneath them when I announced I would be leaving for the summer.
My children would live to tell the stories of their summer, my house was standing, and we made it through. Each of us working our own ‘summer’ jobs. I made 100’s of new friends (Mantoba!). It is not a myth, Manitoba really has salt of the earth people!
It was decided my son Jado would fly to KONA, Hawaii for the Fall 2024 months to study at YWAM (Youth with a Mission), and afterwards learned that he will be flying to Nepal to work in remote villages with least reached people there until Spring 2025. He just completed his 2 year Business Admin at Okanagan College in Kelowna. My daughter Jorg, I was able to check her in to a college in the middle of a field in Saskatchewan, surrounded by nothing,... called Briercrest. Glorious! The same college I attended for one year at her age. That year changed my life, one of the best years of my life. This, after her gap year of backpacking through Europe and ASIA. I have brave children- sheesh!
Knowing that they survived from May until October without me, and now both checked in to stable, life-changing programs, I recognized a blip of time available for ME. A concept I cannot remember in my lifetime. What would I do? Top of the wish list, Europe. Being the Fall time, I’d have to bring too many sweaters. Where could I travel for 10 weeks to take a brain break and only bring a carry on?
ASIA it is.
So here we are:
Wednesday October 16 Japan
Sunday October 27 South Korea
Wednesday October 30 Vietnam
Tuesday November 5 Cambodia
Sunday November 10 Thailand
Sunday December 1 Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia
Wednesday December 4 Bali - Indonesia
Tuesday December 10 Phillipines
Thursday December 19 China
Monday December 23 Kelowna
I will attempt to BLOG my travels, and maybe well beyond this trip. A dream I have had for a very long time is to write a book and write music. I have participated in 3 Best-Selling books to date with other authors (available on Amazon), which allows me to carry the ‘Best-Selling Author’ title. However, I hope to spend my days writing one day. A blog may be good training ground.
If you feel so inclined, I would feel honoured to have you read as I write. Bring your friends. Come on this journey with me. I will attempt to bring value in some way. Whether travel tips, or single mom thoughts, or the battles of aging, or business thoughts. This may be a great mishmash of thoughts and topics. I hope you join me.
Jen
