A Bowl of Cherries:
Life and the Empty Nest—They’re What You Make of Them
Many songs and sayings have been written about life. It’s been defined as “just a bowl of cherries,” “what you make it,” and more. Personally, I look at this time of my life as one big road to adventure, some parts interesting and exciting, others not so much. When I was asked to write this article about my experience of empty nesting, my first thought was, which one? I figure I had about three—when our only child left for college, when he got married, and when I retired. And, I suppose you could say there’s a fourth: when one’s last parent dies. That life change can also empty the nest. My first empty nest experience consisted of waving goodbye to our only child as we drove away, until I could no longer see that small figure standing on the steps at Indiana University. I was so certain that this kid from Florida, who slept wrapped with the covers over his head in the hottest of temperatures, would ditch the cold weather by January and head home . . .

Yosemite National Park
A Jewel in the Crown of America's Great Outdoors
The trip had been a long time coming. Gary and I had breezed through Yosemite National Park in the summer of 1979, and we always regretted it. The breezing through, that is; not the being there at all. As Ken Burns describes in his National Park film series, America’s national parks were this country’s best idea, and Yosemite was a jewel in that crown. During our post-college adventure, we were on the road for five weeks, alternately camping, visiting far-flung relatives, and driving for long stretches (sometimes pulling over during the night until the local gas station opened again), then trying to make it back to NJ for my father’s birthday mid-July. Every goal seemed worthy at the time, but when the dust settled and we had spent only about 24 hours in Yosemite National Park, we both agreed that we had definitely come up short. Planning a four-day stay in Yosemite with our daughter Amie and her husband Todd, more than 30 years later, then, felt like an opportunity to complete some unfinished business . . .

The Joy of an Empty Nest:
You, Too, Can Become a Grand Tourist
When your kids leave for college, they have certainly reached a great milestone—living away from home, embarking on a journey of learning, meeting new friends, and becoming a part of new communities. But what an amazing opportunity for you: You can do the same thing! After wonderful decades of soccer, Girl Scouts, trick or treating, and homework, you are now free to begin a journey of your own. In addition to taking a class, decorating a room, starting a book club, or playing more golf, you can experience the riches of travel in ways you never dreamed possible. Up to this point, has your traveling life been limited to beaching, camping, New York City to see the Rockettes, and visits to our nation’s capital? Or, maybe once a year you called in grandma to watch over the house and little ones while you enjoyed a quick yet relaxing week on a cruise or at a resort to unwind? (Still a good plan and now you don’t have to call in grandma!) Now is the time when you can really begin to expand your travel horizons. I’d like to tell you how I expanded mine . . .

Departments . . .