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Frank whistled as he bounded up the sidewalk. Katherine had promised to make a final decision today, and he was anxious. Living in the middle of the country just complicated everything for her. She wanted to be able to see it all, go everywhere, but couldn’t even decide whether to start by heading east or west first. They had been dreaming about doing this for so many years. And now they had been studying travel brochures for months, getting excited about every one of them. With both of them retired, and with that money her mom left her, they were finally going to be able to make all those travel dreams come true. They didn’t really have to hurry, they had the rest of their lives, but neither one of them could wait to get started. But where were they to start?
Frank opened the front door and entered the study. Every surface of the room had been covered with the colorfully inviting brochures for so long he wasn’t sure if he remembered what the tabletops actually looked like. But, what was this?
“Katherine, you moved them to the walls? It looks like one of your classroom bulletin boards.”
One entire wall was covered with scenic pictures that stirred his imagination and caused his heart to beat faster. Katherine stood wearily in the middle of the room, shoulders hunched, eyes glazed.
“Oh Frank, I’m so sorry, but I still can’t make up my mind. I was remembering the stories my grandparents told me of the time they went down into the Grand Canyon on horseback. I’ve always wanted to do that. And to see the Rockies! All the stories I taught year after year about the settlers crossing the mountains. The gold rush, the Indians, the…”
“Whoa, girl. Take a breath and calm down. I know, I feel the same way. I’ve seen a little more of the country than you have, and I can’t wait to share it with you. I’ve been thinking more and more about that train ride in one of the brochures, it starts in Colorado, goes past the Grand Canyon, through the Rockies, and on to California, with stops at all the Gold Rush towns, I think that might just be the ticket we need for our venture.”
“But what about the Appalachians? All those times we drove across them to get to your sister’s, and we always promised to give ourselves some extra time to stop and just enjoy the view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. But we never did, and I really, really want to see them up close, maybe hike thru them, stay in one of those cabins, way up on the ridge line, by the fire lookout towers…” she collapsed onto the sofa, exhausted just by thinking of all they wanted to do. At this rate, they would be worn to a frazzle before they even packed a suitcase.
“Katherine, take all of the brochures off the wall. Fold them up and put them in a stack.”
“Okay, what are you thinking?”
“I think we’re going to make a decision, right now, and stick to it. Give me the stack, I’m going to toss them in the air, while you close your eyes and choose one. Whatever you pick, that’s where we start, and everything will fall into place from there, alright?”
Katherine had a dubious look on her face, but she slowly agreed. It was the only way. They had to make a decision, and this would leave it all to pure randomness, “Yes! I think that will work.”
Excitement grew in her eyes as she realized they could finally move forward from this state of indecision.
Frank gathered all the brochures into his arms, and Katherine closed her eyes.
“Okay, on the count of three, I’m tossing them into the air, whatever you pick up, that’s it, no more discussions, just plans.”
Frank tossed and Katherine chose. She opened her eyes to see what it was.
“What… where did this one come from? I, oh Frank, I never even thought of this, oh yes, could we really go there?”
Frank walked over to the computer, and began typing.
“Frank, what are you doing?”
“It’s the next step, Katherine, I’m moving ahead with our travel plans.”
Katherine walked over, looked at the screen, and read: “Passport Applications.”
Together, they began filling out the forms, giggling like school children.
“World, here we come!” they shouted as one.
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