I’ve not yet been married for 50 years to my bride, Susan. That event will happen November 19, 2027.
But I HAVE enjoyed traveling and road-tripping together with her for 50 summers - from the Star Wars Summer of 1977 to the Mandalorian and Grogu Summer of 2026.
50 Separate Summers. All these Summers have a common connection. Before I land on that connection, allow me to put these adventurous road warrior miles into context.
During these 50 Summers we’ve travelled coast to coast, north to south, over the mainland of America and around the islands of Catalina and Hawaii. We’ve biked across Europe on a “Barge and Bike” tour on the Danube River with dear friends, visited Scotland, Iceland, and Ireland and… endured Disneyland - on many, many occasions (Ha!)
From the start of our lives together we decided to travel; we relocated to parts east in the early days, hitchhiked in Amish country (cars, not buggies!), walked across Custer’s Last Stand, crashed on a friend’s floor in DC only to be awakened by the news of Elvis’s death. We travelled from California with my sister, Janet, to live in our Mom’s hometown of Ocean City, New Jersey - “down the shore” - picking up jobs and living at the beach.
30 summers before we arrived there, my folks were married in this quaint “dry” seaside resort. Then…Susan and I became engaged there, had dinner in The Chatterbox restaurant (where my folks partially fell in love all those years ago), returned to S. Cal and within months we were married in a “New Age” church, across the street from Santa Anita Racetrack (where, I’m sure attendees might have been placing bets to see IF we’d stay married for the long haul!). We started off our “real life” married lives by finishing college in 1977/78.
And that was just the 1st one of our 50 Summers!
You see, there was something akin to wanderlust that fed our spirits. I say “akin” because we never just “lived in a van down by the river”. No, no. It was more like living in one place and then leaping into the wildness of another unknown place, having a bungie-cord, of sorts, attached to our ankles. The jump happened, the plunge followed and the exhilarating bounce-back was marvelous.
It still is.
The common connection I spoke about above? Susan and I are comfortable in our skin, regardless of where we visit, relocate or choose to vacation.
Before I knew her, she’d been a Homecoming Queen at her high school, a song-leader for her football and sports teams, an high school actress and a friend to many. She was the first of her siblings to graduate from college. During the Bicentennial Summer of 1976, Susan and a dear friend of hers, Dixie, drove across the United States to Maine to work at a Jewish Children’s Summer Camp. It’s her story to share – and it’s a wonderful one – and I sure enjoyed hearing about it when we met!
Before she knew me, I’d lived a “military brat’s bonanza travel-guide lifestyle”. Born in Washington DC, moved to Germany, Texas, Michigan and California, my siblings and I had seen President Eisenhower’s second Inauguration, Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Zweibrucken, Germany, hotels in France, The Alamo in San Antonio, Henry Ford’s Greenfield Village in Michigan, The Hollywood Sign and beaches in S. Cal. We’d gotten certificates for Jr. Parachuters in Germany, deposited siblings as they turned 18 at various landmarks across America. Kept close though miles separated us and learned that one’s heart is all that’s needed to stay close. Seven siblings, in-laws and out-laws and a whole gaggle of littles that remain a part of our lives.
Travel has broadened my horizons about people, history and the unique place Americans have in the world. Being from a military family provided me with a sense of mission, an understanding of honor and a dependence on all of us doing our duty. I learned that seeing is believing, experiencing the similarities of all nationalities and being able to understand the differences, combine to help us live in the grander scheme of life.
My Challenge for You: Allow me, if you will, to challenge you in this newsletter by reminding you of the things you MOST wanted to see, to visit and to possibly enjoy when you were less encumbered by career or financial demands. When was that for you? Not sure, maybe it was in your own college or young adult years – maybe it was when your children left home OR when you realized that age was slowly creeping up on you. It doesn’t matter – what matters is this: “What are you going to do with the days that you have in front of you?”
My Suggestion to You: Stop griping about what others are doing and set your mind on doing something you’ve always wanted to do. It doesn’t matter if you are single, older, limited on funds or wealthy (and therefore fearful of losing what you DO have.) Faith in things unseen is invigorating. The Bible says that “without faith it is impossible to please God”. (Think about that in your own life!)
My Opportunity for You: Many readers of my Newsletter know that I love the Bible and have visited the Holy Land several times. One thing that neither Susan nor I have ever done (and ALWAYS wanted to do) is to lead a “Footsteps of the Apostle Paul Cruise and land tour” – So, we are doing it in the Spring of 2027!! And we would LOVE to have you and members of your family join us. The trip will be from March 18th – 31st.
Now, let’s get to it:
- What are you going to do with the days that you have in front of you? Rear view mirrors are needed; we all use them to park well or to exit easier… but they are terrible for the regretful driver who always wonders what it would have been like to have chosen a different direction. Get moving. Now is the moment to go forward. Take for example…
- Stop griping about the accomplishments of others and begin thanking God for the things He has accomplished in YOU.
"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
- Consider going with Susan and me as we retrace the Footsteps of Paul next March. For years I have taken pilgrims to Israel and Egypt. In all of those many trips we have seen the Bible come alive for hundreds of people who have traveled with us. Next spring we will be breaking new ground by going to Athens and then taking a cruise, following the travels of the Apostle Paul. Come be with us!
And then when we have concluded that leg of the trip, Susan and I will take you with us to our favorite places in Israel. Come join us! Click here for more information on the trip.
More later,
Den
Remember to respond asap for the cruise and land tour. Space is limited and I really would like to have you join us on it. We’ve made it simple for you to offset the cost of airplane tickets by using your frequent flier miles, if they are available. Any questions, please email me at Dennis@DennisMansfield.com