To my children, on the eve of another adventure:

Here we are on the eve of another adventure, to Alaska this time, and I want to share with you few things that are on my mind.

Your dad and I love to travel. We've traveled as often and far as we've been able to for as long as we've been together. We love sharing these adventures with you and hope to continue to introduce you to new geography, history, habitats and cultures for as long and far as we are able.

As a family, we spend hours researching and learning about each new place that we visit. We don't choose to prepare in this way to torture you with an unending stream of information but rather in the hopes that you will enjoy each adventure to the fullest and remember each destination by becoming so intimately acquainted with it's landscape, culture, and distinguishing sights both before and during our travels.

You are fortunate to be able to observe, experience and learn about various locations that many people will only read about. I hope you never take for granted and always appreciate the effort your dad and I put into every excursion, tour, trek and voyage, for everything we plan is to further your knowledge and understanding of the world around you.

Lastly, I hope you take the time to breathe, to smell, to taste, to feel, to be fully present and to deeply engage in every exploration and wandering. These adventures are for you and you alone can carry the memories from here.

Love,

Mom