When we
first told family and friends about our intentions to take our family on a 1yr
backpacking trip across South East Asia, we were surprised by the negativity we received. Some people even went so far
as to say that we ‘were going to get the children killed’, especially by going
to some of the developing countries on our itinerary.
In our
day and age, on one hand the world is a ‘smaller place’ due to ease and
accessibility of travel. Yet on the
other, the threat of terrorism and general fear of the unknown while traveling,
particularly with a family, keep most people from chasing their dreams. Other excuses such as waiting until the
children get older or for more financial security also crop up.
But this
past weekend, a day after returning home from our wonderful family holiday in
Bali, we got some life-changing news: my only sister was killed in a freak accident.
It happened in Canada, a ‘safe’ country, while going for a leisurely
drive in the country with her family.
At 36 years
of age, she has been taken from this world much too soon.
But it
gives me some peace to know she led a fulfilling life, full of zest and a sense
of adventure --a life with no regrets, especially after the long awaited birth
of her 2 boys. She had a great education
that led to a successful career, through which she met her future husband. They
both loved to travel and even took a year off to visit places of their dreams
such as Africa, South America, Europe, Egypt, India, SE Asia, China, and
Australia. Even after their first child
was born, she and her husband made the 20ish hour journey to visit us in
Australia, with child in tow. And after the recent birth of their second child,
they travelled by air to San Diego for a holiday. They were even on a short-getaway at the time
of her death. She didn’t do things by
half-measures, and always did her best by all the people she knew and
loved. Above all, she loved her husband
and children the most.
 |
| With Auntie in Melbourne, December 2010 just before we left on our trip. |
All the
cliché’s in life are true: ‘Life is too
short’; ‘Only the good die young’; ‘Live
life to the fullest’; ‘You only live
once’; ‘The only thing to fear is fear
itself’.
Try to
not put off chasing your dreams, especially if it is to travel the world. But most importantly make time for the people
and the things that you love. Don’t let
fear of the unknown stop you-- bad things can happen to you anywhere,
anytime. As the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) put it, her accident was ‘an act of God’. I know He will take care of her now; may she
rest in peace.
 |
| With her precious family just a month prior to her death. |
