Travels with Pa

<p>For as long as I can remember I've wanted to travel around the world. No one in my family traveled so the seed must have been planted by Jules Verne. After college I hitchhiked across the U.S. and Canada later spending six months in Central America. Family life brought other albeit shorter journeys - South America Europe Jordan Palestine even China and Japan. But not since those early days of hitchhiking and riding the rails with no one to care for but myself had I been truly alone in the world free of agendas and obligations. Turning seventy brought an urgency: the window of opportunity was narrowing. Bedtimes were earlier naps more frequent. One eye needed surgery one ear an aid. And then there was the whisper: If not now then when?</p>