By Adam Kaplan
Kaplan and Fornear take the National Mall
We are currently in the throes of our winter travel season. From November through late-February, I will travel to more than twenty cities for a grand total of more than six weeks on the road. That feels like a LOT of time. Now don’t get me wrong. The road trips have a great deal going for them. I get to see the entire country display its amazing fall colors as different geographies show their colors at different times during the travel season. I get to visit some of the most interesting and exciting cities across the nation. And, most of all, I get to eat at the “it” restaurant everywhere we go and eat some truly amazing regional delicacies. Whether it be barbecue in Kansas City, or Memphis, or Dallas (yeah….I really like barbecue!), or some of the best authentic southern cooking in Atlanta, or the biggest pastrami sandwich on the planet in New York City, or my favorite Indian restaurant in Washington D.C., there can be little doubt that one of the true perks of the road is the culinary tour-de-force that the country offers up every year.
Having said all of that, as a father of three, I have to admit that prior to the travel season I look ahead with more than a little dread at the prospect of being away from my family for that long. As all parents know, those years when our kids are kids and want us around are fleeting (already one of my brood has flown the coop for college….in other words, radio silence from him! I suppose that is a good thing as he is truly finding his own way….but sheesh….how about a call every now and again huh Josh?!?). When I am on the road, I miss countless soccer games, basketball games, band concerts, and plain old family dinners….not to mention the many additional hours that my other two children have to spend outside tying up all of the yellow ribbons in anticipation of my return after each trip. The travel season certainly is felt by my entire family.
So, at times it can be difficult to get fully motivated for each trip as I am about to embark on it. I mean, how many times can someone look at the exact same photos, watch the exact same video, and tell the exact same jokes? Admittedly, there are times when I am heading to a reunion, concerned about how much fun it is going to be.
And then I arrive at the reunion home…
The genuine warmth and welcoming tone of each family that hosts a reunion never fails to immediately turn my spirits around. The excited faces of the campers and alumni as they arrive at the reunion to get their little taste of Nebagamon in the winter moves me to that exact same level of excitement. That excitement turns each slide from the slideshow into a brand-new image for me. The smiles, laughs, and cheers that the video produces at each showing, turn it into a world premier movie event for me each time. Truth is, being at a winter reunion is as close to being at camp as is possible…and I love little more in the world than being at camp.
I apologize for not sharing too profound of a message in this month’s edition of the Arrowhead. I really just want to let everyone know how much I appreciate the efforts that you all make to attend our winter reunions across the country. And I want to thank everyone for sharing such genuine enthusiasm, warmth, and hospitality with us as we come to your towns. It feels great…and makes it all worthwhile.
I am looking forward to seeing many of you in the coming months. Yellow ribbons are optional…
Happy New Year!