There's been debate between my Grandpa and I on how the whole 'adventure' idea came about, he'd tell you it was cause he was trying or still trying (stubborn old bastard) to get me to chase a girl across the country. That did make me start to put down the foundations and I was almost there but things went south. My first goal fizzled out so I decided well fuck it lets go east and east. This did start because of girl, yes for Grandpa's ridiculous hopeless romanticism- that girl,but it started more so in admiration and adoration for what he did for his girl.
My grandparents are a beautiful thing. True symbol of love, sticking together, still attracted to each other, always laughing, and still always enjoy eachother. Over the last almost 50 years of being married, they've seen many obstacles but they conquered through it all because they had the will to stick together. Their hardwork had paid off then well the economy took a shit and they lost everything...till my grandpa did one crazy thing to get them to where they wanted to be.
The economy took a dive and his once successful mechanical contracting business was now closing it's doors. He did all he could to make sure most things and his workers were paid and set. That meant dipping into his own savings and his retirement that by time it all was squared; his personal finances were near gone. This was a rough stage of having to start over at 63 and for the first time I'd seen, they were scared shitless. Grandma was going around trying to find something while Grandpa was traveling to find work in AC but their age was keeping them back. I dont know how he found it but he found an opportunity to turn it all around and be able to retire comfortably. I got a phone call one day that he was gonna be heading to Texas for some training then in a few weeks, he'd be heading to Afghanistan for civilian contracting. He was very quick and brief...I didnt get a chance to take in the shock factor. My only thoughts....
..."Huh? What the fuck? He said Afghanistan right?"
Oh it got better once he was off in the warzone working, here in the states, Grandma went straight to work too. She was running around selling stuff, putting stuff into storage, the checks came in, and she paid the bills. Seriously, she was nonstop on the go enough to make me go into cardiac arrest. Then she laid out their ultimate retirement goal, they wouldnt be able to live comfortably here, the plan is to settle all their debts, sell their house, they found a spot in Ecuador, a spot they could be comfortable, relax, and enjoy eachother. She was also quick and brief and my thoughts were....
..."Ehhh? Ecuador say what? Both of you got that hardcore southern accent and now you wanna mix it with spanish?"
So there they were, both busting their asses, working to get to where they wanted to be. It was kinda like they
were starcrossed lovers trying to get back to each other and there were hard moments that tested them both. Distance was the enemy to the heart and for my Grandma, it was a killer. We'd skype twice a week and there were multiple times that I'd call after she had been crying. There were moments where she was overwhelmed with handling all the bills, immigration, selling the house, that she wished Grandpa was there to comfort her. He only had left her when he was serving in Vietnam, other than that, they were always inseparable. Beautiful thing she did for him was, she still had her prom dress, she did her makeup the same way, then called him up on skype, and thats how they spent Valentines. The significance of the prom dress? It was their first actual date and thats when Grandpa knew, he didnt wanna go anywhere on this earth without her.
Grandpa had seen war being in Vietnam and knew people that never came back. He had been accustomed to it but think this took him to a whole new level. We had skype sessions with him whenever he could but he disappeared often depending on what was happening over there. He didnt talk much about it until one day he was bothered. He spent maybe two years in Afghanistan then to make money, he took up a job in Iraq, and thats when he was bothered. I dont know much of what he was able to do in his free time or any other stuff like that. I know only that he had gotten to know somebody there and they were killed. We talked on skype one day and I could see it that something had shaken him. He told me few facts, I didnt push it with him, I asked if he was okay.I'll never forget what he said next, "Just some things will never make sense to me." I asked, "Then why? Youve done enough, its okay to come back." That brought him back to say his 'life lesson', he said, " Thaddeus, one day it may come down to doing one crazy fucking thing that'll get you to where you wanna be. It'll be wonderful cause you pushed yourself through all the crazy to get to the other side."
I never forgot those words either. Well my dudes, I can go on and on about that experience with them but those were their defining moments in this story. How far could two lovers go for eachother and what do you do in the face of obstacles? You stand together and you push on through. He was only in Iraq for about a little over a year then he retired and he is where he wants to be now and he enjoys everyday of it. They go on crazy dirtbiking adventures to Peru, meet new people,explore new land, the simple life.
This is pretty much the foundation of my trip. Here I am, my feet fucking hurt from 17 hour days, I have very few days off, the free time I do have I'm researching for my trip. Grandpa and I were talking, he always brings up how it's funny where a journey for a girl evolved into traveling the world. I always smile to myself because yeah this started cause of a girl but not that one but because of what he did for his and how hard they fought to get to exactly where they wanted to be.
Well shit this was a good topic and if you made it to the end of this...go get yourself a beer and enjoy your day :)
@rambo @lyxzen @missy
