RSS…preparing to travel
Mar 25
My wife and I will be leaving soon to Spain almost two years since our last visit to her homeland. This is usually about the time that the nervous excitement kicks in, the so-much-to-do anxiety. While those apprehensive and anticipative jitters are there, there is also something different about this trip that neither of us can do anything to prepare for.
Traveling is the thing that we look forward most to doing. The chance to get away, for days, or weeks when we are lucky, and get the chance to explore is a thrill that is singular. Visiting Spain is always the quintessential trip for many reasons, not the least of which is that it simultaneously beautiful, exotic, and conveniently, my wife’s native country. We get the pleasure of the foreign while having the security of extended family. The latter also adds the luxury of economy. Having relatives to bunk with does save more than a little pocket change.
But one of the highlight of our Spanish travels has always been the chance to visit my wife’s grandfather, the man who has been the most constant caregiver and father to her. Sharing time in his flats in Madrid and Lugo was sometimes trying, more often comforting, but never lonely. But as we prepare to depart, the Spain that we head towards will be different. The charming, adoring, man that was such a large part of my wife’s, and in our time together, my own, will not be there to greet us at his door with tears and hugs. The Madrid flat that we will arrive to Monday morning will be quiet and empty.
We are traveling to Spain to begin settling his affairs. And the finality of this role that my wife and I will be fulfilling greatly dampens our preparations for departure. As opposed to the pressures of wanting to do too much in the time we are there, we need to do more than time could ever possibly allow. And beyond the business, the affairs of his estate, the simple lack of his presence is biggest impediment to preparation, mostly because there is no possible preparation to returning to an empty home.
His empty home.
This is the shadow that extends over our trip. It is the empty chair in his living room that I am not ready to see.
But this is also a trip that must be made, something that we are looking forward to. The last year of his life was difficult as he dealt with injuries and illness. We were not able to be with him at his death and so this homecoming gives us the chance to visit his grave and say goodbye. Even the chance to be in the spaces that he occupied for so many years, to go through his clothes, look at his photos, will be a comfort. And despite the sadness of the occasion, we will be in one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and even the saddest of times cannot hide that. Although we will not have the opportunity to explore as much as we have in the past, just being there in our second home will be grand. And who knows what surprises the streets of Madrid and Lugo will throw at us while we are completing our business.
So we are checking off the items on our to-do list, and making sure we are as set as we can be. Traveling, no matter what the reason, is always an adventure. This will be a pilgrimage of sorts as we let go of Abuelo’s Spain, the Spain of my wife’s childhood, and begin to make it our Spain for today and the future.
Rated four stars for pre-travel jitters, the certain arrival of tears, and the excitement of Spain. Would have been rated five stars if Abuelo could give the first homecoming toast.
Salud.
