Chapter 6
The Hardest Part of Every Trip
If you’ve traveled very much, you already know.
The hardest part of any vacation isn’t packing.
It isn’t the long drive.
It isn’t even the laundry waiting for you when you get home.
It’s saying goodbye.
Before we knew it, our week in New Braunfels had come to an end.
The motorhome slowly began filling with clothes, souvenirs, dog toys, and everything else that somehow multiplies during a trip.
The girls continued playing as if nothing was changing, but every now and then they would stop what they were doing long enough to give Mommom and Papa another hug.
Those hugs get a little harder every year.
One Last Goodbye
When everything was finally loaded, Chris and Rachel walked us outside.
The dogs were settled into the motorhome.
The checklists were complete.
All that remained was saying goodbye.
I hugged Rachel first.
Then Chris.
His hug lingered just a little longer than usual.
I quietly whispered,
“You can let go now…”
Not because I wanted him to.
But because I knew if either one of us said much more, the tears wouldn’t be far behind.
As I climbed into the motorhome, Tracey looked over with a grin.
“Hurry up and get inside before you start crying.”
He wasn’t wrong.
There’s something bittersweet about watching your children build lives of their own.
As parents, that’s exactly what we hope for.
It just doesn’t make saying goodbye any easier.
Homeward Bound
Rather than trying to drive all the way back to Arizona in one day, we took our time heading west.
We stopped at familiar fuel stations, stretched our legs, walked the dogs, and enjoyed one last day on the open road.
Ki’Oni had officially become a seasoned traveler.
Not bad for a puppy who had joined the family only days before the trip.
That evening we pulled into a Walmart in Deming, New Mexico, where we settled in for one final night in the motorhome.
There’s something oddly comforting about those simple overnight stops.
No campground reservations.
No elaborate setup.
Just a safe place to rest before finishing the journey home.
The next morning was an easy drive back to Arizona.
By lunchtime, we were pulling into our driveway.
Barely an hour later, the motorhome was unloaded, the laundry had begun, and life slowly settled back into its normal routine.
More Than a Vacation
Looking back, this wasn’t the most adventurous trip we’ve ever taken.
We didn’t hike towering mountains….We didn’t visit world-famous landmarks….We didn’t cross anything off a bucket list.
Instead…
We watched grandchildren play soccer.
We wandered the charming streets of Gruene….We shared meals around the table….We laughed until our sides hurt….We met kind people….We created memories.
And honestly…
That’s exactly what we needed.
Travel doesn’t always have to be about seeing something spectacular.
Sometimes it’s simply about making the effort to be with the people you love.
Those are the trips that stay with you….Those are the stories that get told around future dinner tables….Those are the miles that are always worth driving.
Looking Back
It’s amazing how much has changed since this trip.
The little girls who raced across soccer fields and hugged us at school pickup have grown.
Ki’Oni is no longer the tiny puppy who wasn’t sure what to make of his first road trip.
Life has moved forward, just as it always does.
But that’s one of the reasons we started JourneyFor2.
Photographs capture what we saw.
Stories capture how it felt.
As we look back on this Fall Break adventure, we’re reminded that some of our favorite destinations aren’t famous because of what you’ll find there.
They’re unforgettable because of who you’ll find there.
New Braunfels will always be one of those places for us.
And we have a feeling we’ll keep finding reasons to make the drive back.
After all…
The best journeys are the ones that lead you home.