pchamlis' VirtualTourist Home Page

We have always done a great deal of traveling as a family. It provided learning and memories for us and our kids. The oldest, our son Jeff, has moved on to college, but we still travel with our younger daughter, Sara, whenever and wherever possible. Our most recent family adventure was a trip to India. (Please do check out my India, New Delhi, Bharatpur, Agra, Fatahpur Sikri, Sawai Madhopur and Jaipur pages) We have now begun the thrilling task of deciding where to go next year. Maybe this time Jeff will be able to join us, although he does have his adult life and responsibilities. Not everyone can be carefree retirees, right?

But as you can see from the picture, we still manage to get everyone together now and then. This was taken on June 24, 2009 - my 53rd birthday. (My goodness, that sounds old!) We all got together for wine and steaks at a local eatery, "Carl's on the Parkway". (Please see my tip for Carls on my Tallahassee page). Any evening with your family that starts with a nice chianti and ends with "Georgia Peach creme brulee" is one to remember. Nothing makes me happier than having us all together again.

Our son Jeff (far right in the photo) is loving life as a college graduate, working for the local Florida State University boosters organization. He is busily preparing for graduate school in the fall, pursing a master's degree in urban planning. He has a long-time sweetie (Meghan) who has just graduated from nursing school at FSU. (Magna Cum Laude, to boot) Even though Jeff and Meghan lack the time for travel that Bonnie and I have, they still enjoy getting away - they are planning a cruise to Mexico in July 2009. Jeffrey is one of the most focused and dedicated young men you'll ever meet, we are very very proud of him.

Our youngest, daughter Sara, is now 20 years old, and graduated from hish school last spring. Let's hear it for the Tallahassee Lincoln High School's "Class of 2008". Sara was named a commended scholar, and we are very very proud of her. Where does the time go? Oh well, make sure that when the time does go by, you've saturated it with loving family memories and adventures. So, continue having family adventures for your kids still at home. Sara's newest hobby is horses... she is working for one of our neighbors, helping to care for his extensive stable of quarter horses. She loves every minute of it.

I haven't mentioned my parents a lot on my VT site, other than over on my Bermuda page. (We lived there when I was young) Mom and Dad are both in their early 80s and are still hanging in there. Mom has to deal with being legally blind, due to macular degeneration. Therefore, she seldom goes out to large public functions. Dad stays with her most of the time, but he does appear at such important events as graduation ceremonies.

Bonnie and I have been married for 28 terrific years now. And other than looking a little bit more gray, we are doing great. I couldn't ask for a better life in any way. :)

As a parent, we can perform no greater miracle than to help our kids' dreams come true. Every son or daughter deserves to have memories of their childhood that they'll treasure forever. I want as many of my kids' happy memories to be of my making as is possible.

My daughter Sara is INTO wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. She's done it for years. Nobody loves wlid creatures anymore than Sara. And, she doesn't just love the fuzzy bunnies. In fact, the meaner and nastier the animal, the more she seems to love it. This is a kid who pets rattlesnakes.

Anyway, her hero for years has been Steve Irwin, Australia's Crocodile Hunter. She's always considered Australia Zoo to be "the holy land", so to speak.

When we went to Australia in June of 2005, it was a given that we'd have to visit the Aussie Zoo. I'd been writing to them for years about Sara, and they were waiting for her. They gave her a VIP, behind-the-scenes visit. We spent the entire day going through "authorized personnel only" signs and such. Sara was thrilled.

Steve and Terri Irwin were not there that day, they seldom are. And, in the planning stages, it was impossible to set it up where they'd be in town for sure when we were scheduled to arrive. But, they clearly left instructions for Sara to be given the royal treatment. And, they left several autographed photos and such for her.

Sara looked at me as we drove back to Scarborough that evening and said "Daddy, my dream came true". I almost cried.

Guess where we went (again) the next day? : )

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June 2007 update... I have finally added text to and finished up my Beerwah/Australia Zoo page. Enjoy.

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JUNE 2009 update... My sweet Sara has just landed her first official full-time job. And guess what she's doing? It's no stretch - knowing her - learn that she's a veterinary tech at a local animal hospital. It is a job made in heaven for her and she comes home every day with a huge smile on her face.

There are two prevalent schools of thought about having teenaged kids grow into adulthood. I disagree with both.

The first involves trepidation. There is fear that they'll grow into adults with adult-sized problems for YOU. How many times have you heard some idiot say "your troubles are just beginning...." when you announce your son or daughter's 19th or 20th birthday? If you've spent your parenthood talking and being part of your child's life, chances are good that you'll never have this problem. Just MHO.

The second involves great angst in the realization that "it" is almost over. They're not children anymore. They may well be moving out soon. Your baby is gone. Some people cannot imagine life beyond the present, and dread every moment as it approaches. I can understand the emotion completely, and it nearly killed me when my oldest, son Jeff, moved out of the house and on to college. But, I was so very proud of the responsible young man he'd become. And over the last few years, we've added a new love to our relationship with Jeff... besides having a terrific son, we have a beloved and trusted adult friend.

For much of Jeff's time at FSU, he was a member of the Marching Chiefs band at football games. In fact, for his last two years in Chiefs, he was one of the drum majors. (The guys who direct the band on the field). Jeff was selected for this position in the spring of 2005 after a rigorous series of tryouts and practices. In 2006, he was honored by again being selected as a drum major. (There are 400+ students in the Chiefs and there are only three drum majors) Being a drum major at FSU was a goal of Jeff's as early as his sophomore year in high school.

That's one of my son's strongest attributes. He's so very focused, so much more so that I ever was at that age. He sets goals, he works for them and he attains them. I've never had to push or cajole him in any way. On the day he turned 21, ie legal drinking age in America, we took him out to dinner. When I asked him what he wanted to drink with his meal, he said "Diet Coke". When I gave him a puzzled look, he said "I have a big test tomorrow". That's maturity, folks. : )

The accompanying photo was taken just the other night... My wife (Bonnie) and I joined our son Jeff and his very very steady girlfriend at Bella Bella, a nice little local Italian place. (see the tip on my Tallahassee page) We had a great time out with one of our favorite "adult couples", my son and his girlfriend. :) We are also very proud that they almost never decline an invite to join the "old folks" out for dinner.

We are so proud of you, Jeff. And, we still miss you.

For my son's 12th birthday, he and I traveled to Germany, France and Luxembourg in March of 1996. We stayed in small pensions and toured many of the historical sites related to the first and second world wars. Jeff was especially impressed and excited when we found the grave of "Ol' Blood and Guts", General George S. Patton.

It was a great trip and Jeff learned a lot. I enjoyed just spending time with my oldest child. As the years after this trip have gone past, I treasure even more the chance Jeff and I had to travel to Germany together. And, not too long ago, one of Jeff's friends told me that he (Jeff) "talks about his trip to Germany in 1996" all the time. I'm glad to know that it apparently meant so much to him, too. It was part of the process, I believe, that's contributed to him growing into a fine young man.

Our youngest child, Sara, is an animal lover. She does a lot of volunteer work with injured wild animals. For her "12th birthday trip", we took her to the Tambopata rainforest of Peru.

The photo included with this chapter was actually featured on both the website and catalog cover for the travel company Journeys-International, based in Ann Arbor, MI. BTW, if any of you are ever contemplating family travel to an exotic location, I'd advise that you contact Joan Weber at Journeys International. (They specialize in Nepal, if you're into that "top of the world" thing). And check out Journeys' family travel webpage. They still have a photo of Sara there.

http://www.journeys.travel/tags/family/

Sure, we travel as a family a great deal. But one of the secrets to the Chamlis household happiness lies in the occasional "mom and dad only" trip that Bonnie and I take.

Usually, but not always, these trips coincide with our wedding anniversary in October. Among our anniversary trip destinations have been Iceland, Europe, San Francisco, Fernandina Beach, Lake Placid and New York City.

Among our more recent "mom and dad only" trips were NYC and Washington, DC. We also spent four days in Savannah, Georgia, at the lovely MacMillan Inn, celebrating our wedding anniversary. In June of 2006, we visited New Orleans for the American Library Association show. OK, it was kind of a business trip for me, but I had plenty of time to celebrate my 50th birthday and to have fun with my wife in "the Big Easy". BTW, if you visit New Orleans, you MUST stay at the Elysian Fields Bed and Breakfast. Tell Leigh that Pete from Tallahassee sent you.

Sometimes, letting the kids stay at home is a very good idea. : )

The attached photo was taken during the 2006 Book Expo America in Washington, DC. We were invited to a private birthday party for the actor Robert Duvall. It was also in honor of a made-for-TV sequel to Lonesome Dove, called Broken Trail. Fulcrum Publishing, one of my clients, published the book.

Getting away from home changes the environment enough that everyone can talk and learn from each other.

While in Arizona, my wife and daughter had lengthy afternoon conversations as we sat to watch the sun set at the Grand Canyon. Now, chances are that they were talking more about the squirrels hanging around the motorlodge than the majesty of the Colorado River's millenia of work. But, the topic doesn't really matter, does it?

Portraits of our family are rare....one of us is usually taking the pictures. But, special thanks to the guy at the painted desert overlook in Arizona who snapped this shot for me. We were on our way to the Grand Canyon North Rim in 1998.