“Once a year, go someplace
you’ve never been before.” 
Dalai Lama

There was a time when I loved to travel. During my early childhood, my family used to spend a week or so each summer vacationing in Boulder Creek, then, in later years, on Cobb Mountain in Lake County. We also took two road trips to Southern California in those years, one for a family funeral and one to spend a few days at Disneyland. Our big family vacation happened in the summer of 1968 when we flew to the East Coast. We visited New York City, Boston, Niagara Falls, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. I vividly recall being shocked when, while standing on the deck of the U.S.S. Constitution in Boston harbor, a 21-canon salute acknowledged that it was noon on the 4th of July.  

Since that time, I’ve been blessed with a number of travel opportunities, including numerous international trips to Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Japan. Here in the U.S., I’ve driven across the country on I-80 from San Francisco to New York, and traveled to New Orleans, Hawaii, Orlando, FL, the upper Michigan peninsula, Seattle and Spokane, WA, Eureka, CA, San Diego, and a number of other cities and towns closer to home. Although I have never been to Canada, Mexico, or anywhere in Europe, I don’t feel travel-deprived in any way.

This summer, Kathy and I decided to try something new. We’re taking a river boat cruise along the Columbia and Snake Rivers, between Oregon and Washington. We boarded the vessel on Saturday morning. After spending the day in Astoria, OR on Sunday and Kalama, WA yesterday,  today we explored The Dalles, OR. We’ll conclude our journey in Clarkston, WA on Saturday morning. The trip has been delightful so far. 

My only previous experience on a river boat was riding the Mark Twain paddle boat ride at Disneyland. This week, we’re traveling on the American West, one of the boats of American Cruise Lines. It’s a small vessel, with a capacity of 200 guests. Our stateroom is comfortable and has a private patio deck with a northern exposure. The meals served in the classic dining hall have been exquisite. Each day offers a variety of excursion options, while in the evenings, live entertainment is available in the River Lounge.

As happens so often in my life, I had another “small world experience” today. While visiting the Maryhill Winery in the town of Goldendale, WA, I met Dave, our host for the wine tasting adventure. He mentioned that he had moved to Goldendale a few years ago. I learned that he was originally from Santa Clara, CA! Of course, I asked him where he attended high school: Archbishop Mitty (’76), and elementary school: St. Clare (’72). Then we began the  Do You Know? game. He threw out a number of family names of a few friends he remembered from his youth. One of the names rang a bell: Pasquinelli.

“Did he have an older sister named Gina?” I inquired. Dave assured me that, indeed, he did. “I went out with her once!” I responded. 

Back in 1979, Jenifer Jatta, one of my eighth grade students at St. Christopher School in San José, thought it might be a good idea for me to meet her Aunt Gina, assuring me that we would be perfect for each other. We went out to dinner one evening. When I called her to invite her out for a second date, she declined — three different times. I got the message.   

We’re a little more than halfway through our cruise. I wonder who else I’ll meet along the way with whom I might have something or someone in common.