Amy M. Schaefer
  • Amy M. Schaefer, Writer
  • Blog: From the Front Porch
  • Novels
  • Short Stories
    • Children's Books
  • About the Author
  • Contact
  • Photo & Art Gallery

From the Front Porch

I am an "accidental blogger". When I launched my writing career in March of 2014, one of the things that I decided to include was my journaling, which I have always found to be a comforting and therapeutic endeavor.  It was a big risk to open myself up in such a public forum, but it has taught me that, for the most part, we share far more experiences than we think. It's comforting to know I'm not alone!  (*the "Button Text" is the link to my first novel)
Button Text

Day Sixty-six: The Key to Happy Travels

1/6/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Most of the vacations I took as a child were with my grandma Juanita, who was a very grumpy traveler. In fact, navigating her moods on a trip was a lot like playing verbal landmine dodge ball, especially when you got to the point where she'd run out of money (...and she always did). She was a big fan of going somewhere and cramming in as much "sight-seeing" as possible, causing every day to be this crazy rush of getting from one event to another. She also believed this equated to "having fun" (insert dramatic eyeroll here).  I despised her approach to vacationing so much, that when I got old enough to plan and go on my own, I developed some fast and hard rules about how MY trip would be different, ergo much happier:

Rule One: Always do your research, so you know what options are available.
Rule Two: No doing anything (or eating anywhere) you can do at home...i.e. stay OUT of McDonalds!
Rule Three: No rushing anywhere or stressing about anything (...this comes with a caveat, however, in that you also can't sleep until noon every day. If you wanna spend so much time sleeping, stay home!).
Rule Four: Stick to your budget, and always allow for a buffer.
Rule Five: Make a plan, but be flexible enough to break it, and know your threshold so that you're aware of the precise moment it's time to quit and call it a day.

When going on a trip, I like to be prepared but open-minded. I like bringing my favorite clothes and my own pillow (...I'm weird about putting my face where countless strangers have ALSO put theirs, or whatever...shudder). I frequently forget to take pictures, especially when I'm having a great time. I think this is partly because grandma used to pose me like a princess in front of various "monumental" points of interest, while we were having a lousy time...talk about the ultimate fake Kodak moment! I hope your 2015 is full of adventures, which don't necessarily have to involve taking a trip. May you find your own way of making those adventures into happy memories!

Note: The above earrings are available at Etsy.com (love, love, love this website)!

Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    About The Author

    I grew up in rural North Carolina. When I was only nineteen, I moved away and became a military wife. My only aspiration at that tender time in my life was to create an adult life that "fixed" all of the "injustices" of my childhood. Secretly, however, I wanted to reach for the sky! I wanted to be a writer and find ways to "save the world" (my mother used to say, "You have Save the World Syndrome".). Mostly, I wanted to matter.

    Since then, I have learned to reach well beyond what I ever dared to think was possible. I've learned not to allow fear to stop me from whatever future I want to create!

    What keeps me grounded? My Tribe! What provides the wind beneath my wings? A well of reserves filled with unstoppable passion!

    Archives

    August 2021
    March 2020
    August 2019
    June 2019
    March 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    Categories
    A View From the Hill: Short Stories by Mattie Hill Shields

    All

    Button Text

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Amy M. Schaefer, Writer
  • Blog: From the Front Porch
  • Novels
  • Short Stories
    • Children's Books
  • About the Author
  • Contact
  • Photo & Art Gallery