It’s another busy evening for my wife and I with the final Portland Trailblazers game on our agenda. It was originally going to be I.U. alumni night with former player Yogi Ferrell on the Sacramento Kings roster. However, after a sour I.U. basketball season, there was little interest in a meet-and-greet. Instead, some good friends are joining us to celebrate “Fan Appreciation Night” and a chance for the Blazers to move up a spot in the playoff picture. It caps off an active week between travel adventures that has included Aladdin, Lines for Life, Dumbo, and a Pink concert. Tomorrow we leave for Chicago and a chilly afternoon at Wrigley Field.

We may even see some spring snow as we return to our homeland. The “Windy City” will certainly live up to its nickname that once had more to do with politics rather than weather. Heavy gusts have played havoc with flight schedules all over the country. We’re hopeful that there won’t be delays getting in and out of O’Hare. Dinner is planned for one of our favorites, Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab, and my wife has business meetings scheduled. I’ll explore some new ground on my own while she works. For example, there’s a Rembrandt Exhibit at the Art Institute or “Mummies” at the Field Museum. I will make a decision depending on the weather and my busy retirement schedule.

As we ponder future travel, I refer once again to the 1000 Places To See Before I Die calendar on my desk. This week’s destinations include the Maldive Islands, Chili, Mexico, France, South Africa, and Greece. Although we haven’t been to some of the exact locations pictured, we have done some exploration of France and Greece. The graceful Chateau de Chenonceau in Loire is at least one featured spot that we retain found memories. A souvenir porcelain Limoges box of the structure can be found in my wife’s collection. As I then look ahead to next week’s daily destinations, they include the Grenadines, Sweden, Uzbekistan, Shanghai, Ethiopia, and Easter Island – all are yet to be visited by us.

I feel good that my taxes are paid and payment has been arranged for next year’s trip to Egypt. However, two upcoming weddings will definitely put a dent in our travel budget. Fortunately for us – airfare, hotels, and rental cars have already been pre-paid for upcoming visits to Chicago, Rochester, McMinnville, Maui, New York, Steamboat, and Vancouver. This is what I saved for all those working years – the opportunity to see the world. My working wife dutifully continues to save and allows me to join her on most of her frequent business trips. There’s so much left to see, while only time and money stand in the way.