The nice thing about WordPress (and other programs) is that I can schedule posts in advance of their publication. The timing of this post comes a couple of days after my elder son’s birthday.

We used to joke about birthdays. I was born on Friday the 13th. The due date for my oldest son’s birth was Halloween. It seemed fitting.

However, Matt was born early on October 27.

He died early, too, in January 2021. He was only 24 years old.

Traveling in January usually isn’t a very good idea due to predictably inclement weather. Like many bereft parents, I have the urge to escape over the anniversary of my child’s death, but travel really isn’t feasible. Aside from the harship of travel in the depths of winter, my departure means my husband is solely responsible for the care of our animals. In winter, animal husbandry is hard. It’s a lot of work. It’s not fair to dump that responsibility on him so I can distract my mind.

Matt was his son, too. He still grieves as I do.

So, I take my escape over Matt’s birthday.

Since Matt’s death, my travel destinations have extra meaning other than distraction from sorrow. The year he died, I went to New Orleans where Matt visited for a music festival. I remember him enthusing about seeing Guns N’ Roses in concert. There was no such festival going on when I went there, but I enjoyed exploring the French Quarter, going on a swamp tour, and experiencing the city he so enjoyed.

The following year, I went to Colonial Williamsburg, a place I’ve long wanted to visit. That destination was for me; Matt would have had no desire to go there. History wasn’t really his thing. Last year I went to Charleston, South Carolina, another bastion of significant southern history. (I like history.)

This year I’ve made my first journey outside the USA.

I’d heard that Montreal is a wonderful place to visit. Plus Matt thoroughly enjoyed his one visit to Niagara Falls, so I wanted to see that, too. This year’s vacation split locations: a few days in Montreal and a few days in Niagara—all on the Canadian side.

Perhaps next year I’ll go further afield. I’d love to visit the various countries of Europe, from Norway to Italy. Of course, I’d have to pick just one or two to visit in the short time I have to escape and explore, but such an excursion abroad would do the trick of distracting my thoughts.

Matt enjoyed traveling, although he never went outside the USA. I travel in his memory.