I love to travel. I caught the bug during summers travelling the country with my family. It started with a tent going fishing at KOA state parks, then to a pop-up trailer that my brother Darryl would flip out of, and finally the 25-foot trailer towed by our Cosby style station wagon. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, I don’t think there is a part of the Midwest left unexplored by the Knight Jr. clan, over the more than 10 years of camping. We even upgraded the station wagon to a tricked out grey GMC Safari with a vent in the rear (oh yeah ☺). The relationships that were formed and unique experiences of each place are the belly-laughing stories told at every family gathering. Did you hear the one about Shenee hurdling the fence, Darryl and Jasaan on dirt bikes, or Mr. O’Neil and his outdoor fly swatter? There are no stories about me (unless you count me laying on the ground laughing at other family members and being eaten alive by insects…..ARGH). Seriously, I was too busy watching and beginning to dream and plan for all the places I would go.
As we got older and our lives more complex, it became increasingly difficult to continue the summers away. So we upgraded, first to extended trips outside the Midwest to places like New Mexico, Florida, and Hawaii to then to resort style living in the Caribbean, and Mexico. I have ridden cautiously to the highest peak in New Mexico to watch the sunset and walked on the Malaccan in Puerto Vallarta in the heart of the Mexican summer. Both remarkable, deeply spiritual, and part of the growing number of experiences that I carry with me. Outside of Canada, my first trip abroad as an adult was a trip to Nassau, Bahamas for my high school graduation with my friend Allison who I had known since middle school. We drank Bahama Mama’s, jet skied until our butts hurt, and junkanoo’ed with complete strangers. Then there were the spring break trips in college with my roommate Chieka to Cancun and the all-homie Vegas style trip to Jamaica where we completely lost our minds and came home with more money then we left with. Ahhh…the good ole days…with people and friendships that I value more and more each day!
This love of travel is really about my love of my family and friends. The pinnacle, and best trip so far was Christmas of 2007 when 10 of our closest family and friends travelled to Spain and Morrocco for a two-week holiday. We walked 10,000 miles literally, did some of the best shopping (EVER!!!!), and just enjoyed each others company. A close second, is the trip to Cancun with my paternal grandparents to Mexico where my grandmother beat me horribly in spades (I swear she cheated) and we got my grandfather Raymond to promise he’d parasail with us when he turned 80. It was great seeing them out of their element, trying new things, and genuinely enjoying themselves. Third is the trip with my three best friends to Jamaica that I mentioned before. Our lives have changed so much since then, but there isn’t a time when we are together that some part of that experience isn’t mentioned.
Now, my travel is a mix of professional, personal, and wellness. Each year for the past three years I have attended at least one conference out of state, one trip abroad, and at least a one-week wellness retreat. Throw in occasional consulting work, a weekend in Vegas and one or two trips to see either family or friends and I find myself buying a new set of luggage every 12-18 months and racking up frequent flyer miles. So, last week I bought a new set of luggage and instead of collecting shot glasses (you can only get so many before you just look like a drunk) and magnets, I have decided to document my journeys on this blog. Sometimes with family, sometimes with friends, sometimes alone, and sometimes with complete strangers, I will document all about the places I’ll go. This is the world through my eyes.
