#29 The First Jacobs Family Vacation Recreated! Let’s go!
Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C.
17 years ago this week, we went on our first Jacobs family vacation. There were only 4 of us then. Jack was 7, Emma was 4, and Michelle and I were in our early 30s. Henry would not enter our world for another 6 years. We were two broke teachers trying to create something special for our family. Trying to build some lasting memories we could hold onto forever before we all headed back to school and summer was officially over. Almost two decades later, nothing and everything has changed.
This morning we are off on one last adventure together before Jack and Emma start their new jobs next week as…gulp, adults. Jack will be working for a consulting firm in D.C. and Emma will be working for NBCUniversal in L.A. The kids done good! ❤️
And…Henry, Michelle, and I will start school next month as usual and begin the next decade together as a trio. It has been nearly impossible over the last four months to get all five of us in the same place, at the same time, to do something together but we have finally made it happen. At the buzzer.
We are heading to Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and finally, Washington, D.C. where we will drop Jack off to start his new job as a consultant. His starting salary at 22 years old is more than I will make this year as a teacher after 26 years in the classroom. This makes me so happy for him and maybe a little sad if I am being 100 percent honest. I couldn’t be more proud of him but man do we need to pay teachers more in this country.❤️
On this trip, we are “recreating” our first Jacobs family vacation. All those years ago, we went to the Zoo in Salisbury, the aquarium in Baltimore, and the Smithsonian in D.C. We are going to do all those things again, with masks on and being as careful as we can…and, we hope to add a few more fun things to the list. We only could afford three days back then in 2004, and that’s all we have now. We could not be more grateful. Thanks to everyone who has been a part of our lives and travels together so far.❤️
We had hoped to reach our goal of getting to all of the 48 contiguous states before they entered the adult world with new responsibilities, commitments, and soon enough, families of their own. We are not going to accomplish that goal. We will come up one short. Darn you, North Dakota! I knew I should’ve made that “left at Albuquerque” to head North with Bugs Bunny back in 2015 when we had the chance.😂 I was just too tired. I couldn’t add on more hours of driving when I knew I still had at least 24 to go to get back home. North Dakota (and Hawaii and Alaska) are going to be up to Jack and Emma to make happen now. I got them to 47. They are going to have to get us to the final 3. They have more money than me now…no excuses!😂Note to Jack and Emma: I decided today that I prefer First Class travel now.😂
Although we fell one state shy of our goal, we accomplished so much. Our travels together have been some of the best moments of our lives. We have seen and experienced so much together and no matter what happens in the future, we will always have those beautiful memories.
For the month of August, we are going to have Jack, Emma, and Henry each write an essay for our Substack publication. We are giving them no explicit directions or instructions. We want them to write about what they want to and share with you all what they think is important and what they have learned and enjoyed by traveling across the USA. We hope it will inspire you all to hit the road as often as you can, too. Whether it’s a trip right up the street to a National Historic site or a long journey by plane for 100s of miles across the country, just go! Trust me. Don’t let the lack of money stop you. 😂 I will be paying for this trip until I retire in four years and that’s ok…for me. Life is short. Before you know it, you and your kids will be all grown up.
so excited!!