It was going to be our first vacation, just the two of us.
I didnt tell my dad about the England trip for weeks, instead surprising him with it atChristmas.
When I was younger, I was, in many ways,daddys little girl.
In Iceland
My relationship with my mother was tumultuous; we were both loud, argumentative, and stubbornexplosive when combined.
Before we startedtravelingtogether, my dad and I hadnt had an honest conversation in a long, long time.
But there are so many things I want to say.
In Cuba, outside the Semester at Sea ship
When I was in seventh grade, my mom lost her father.
She began threatening my brother and me, throwing things at us, and otherwise terrorizing us.
I want to ask my dad how he let it happen.
On a flight to Barcelona (en route to Southern France)
How he sat by while he heard the things my mother used to yell at me and my brother.
Travel hasnt magically mended these fissures.
It hasnt inspired us to have some no-holds-barred conversation, or reach a point of much-needed catharsis.
Courtesy of author
What it has done, however, is give us something to communicate frankly about.
And by Day 3, wed all but run out of things to do.
So I spoke up.
Courtesy of author
Each of these trips brought unique adventuresas well as unique conflicts for us to navigate.
But were talking, and were doing so honestly.
And taking these trips together has helped us get there.
Courtesy of author
