Thanks, Mom and Dad!
Corey’s folks in the Dominican Republic
I don’t think I would have been open to this crazy seafaring adventure if it hadn’t had been for my parents.
My mom and dad were partners throughout their 67 years of marriage, raising four children, running my dad’s sole practitioner orthopedic practice, and sharing a lifetime of adventure. While, sadly, we lost Mom last year, my parents’ influence and inspiration live on.
Early in their marriage, my folks together learned to fly and took turns piloting my two brothers, sister, and me in their Piper Cherokee 6 across the US, to Alaska, and throughout Mexico. While they viewed flying itself as an adventure, Mom and Dad also used the plane to provide opportunities for family fun: ski trips to Mammoth Mountain, scuba diving the Baja Peninsula, and houseboating on Lake Powell. We also took weeklong backpacking trips in the Sierras, canoed in Alaska, and more – sharing many of these great times with our dear family friends and fellow adventurers, the Buchanans.
My mom and dad started running in their forties, each running more than 30 marathons while making lifelong friends through their Sunday running group. They also heliskiied together, climbed Kilimanjaro in their 70’s, and explored 100+ countries. Eager to share their love of travel and adventure with their grandchildren, they took each grandkid on a special trip, biking through Europe with some, ziplining in Costa Rica with another, swimming with dolphins with still another.
My dad extolled the philosophy that you should never stop learning and trying new things. This outlook on life not only encompassed their sports and travel, but also included community service, cultural activities, and circles of friends. And, they spurred those around them to do the same (just ask many of my peeps who were “adopted” by my folks and adopted them back in-kind!)
One reason I was drawn to Pete was for his adventurous spirit. Throughout our 30+ years together, we have lived an experience-seeking, family-inclusive lifestyle similar to that modeled by my folks. When we started pondering this latest life adventure, we knew my parents would be 100% behind it – as are our similarly-imbued children! So, thanks, Mom and Dad, for giving me the confidence and enthusiasm to learn, to explore, and to cherish all this voyage will entail!
