Sister Trip

If you knew me you would question my credentials to write anything about a sister trip. I am an only child. I have five kids and only one is a girl. Sisters of the biological kind just don’t seem to be in the cards for me. But how I have envied those of you who have sisters and even more how you take sister trips. So this is my first posting to give you tips on taking a sister trip.

After 23 years of watching my husband trek to Colorado to shoot Elk each year I have only once ventured from my territory with a girlfriend. It’s been almost seven years since I took that first trip with my friend Paula to Europe. (Honestly that trip may be the reason it has taken me seven years to embark on a second adventure.) Yes, the fares were cheap — because it was the off season. But I really should have clued in that “timing” would mean trekking through Paris in the cold and pouring rain. My pictures of the Eiffel tower blurry as I shot through the dripping windows of a tour bus. The luxurious hotels of the movies lay in stark contrast to the miniscule space we called a hotel room. Midday marked the time we came back to our room to change into three new layers of clothes as our previous three layers were soaking wet. I am sure you are getting the picture.

So here I am writing on the day I leave with my girlfriend to tackle the Antique Fair of Antique Fairs. My husband’s truck has been cleaned to make room for any treasures we may find, our housing established and, as always, my suitcase not yet packed. But I am excited! And although this advice may be better suited for one of you gals who has a long history of sister trips, I thought I would take a shot at it with fresh eyes. Newbie’s really. Eyes full of hope and expectation toward this great adventure.

So here goes:

1. Do it. ~ Whether you have biological sisters or spiritual sisters. Plan a weekend or longer if you can and do something you will love or are convinced you may like.

2. Be conscience of each others budget. ~ We are saving by staying with some friends for the nights we are in Atlanta. Maybe you can be creative and have a sister trip garage sale or Girlfriends Trading Post clearing house sale. Remember you don’t have to take a trip that involves a lot of $. Even an extended day trip can be lots of fun. (I have done these a time or two.

3. Be honest about expectations. ~ I warned my girlfriend that I am not a good person to shop with. I can’t fake interest in things I don’t want to look at. (I learned this once when shopping with a friend that wanted me to ooh and ahh over every porcelain doll she came across. Torture….pure torture…..from then on I have issued a disclaimer when I shop…..I may wander but let’s set a time and place to meet up for lunch and share our finds.)

4. Space can be good. Be casual to let each other have some time alone if they desire it. Maybe you want to fit in a good book while another wants to see a few sights. Remember that your sister may not only want a little r&r from the kids and house but maybe just a few minutes to themselves to do something they really want, maybe just to be quiet.

5. Have fun and make memories. ~ I am terrible at pictures but I plan to take a few. I hope to find at least one treasure that I can have as a memory take away. (I stole a motto from a lady I overheard at a store years ago…..”I am looking for something I can’t live without and praying I don’t find it!”) I look forward to our car ride down to Atlanta. I am sure our 5 hours there and back will necessitate a box of Kleenex on the front seat between us. Can’t get us girls together too long without sharing hearts. So while those may be expectations of sorts my greatest excitement is to kick off a long tradition of Sister Trips.

Scotts Antique Fair Here We Come!

~Tina