“Will you come travel with me?
Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?”
~Walt Whitman, Song of the Open Road
The late afternoon October sun was reflecting through the stately arched windows of the Minneapolis Woman’s Club as Herb and I officially began our journey together forty-five years ago. Our friends and family were gathered ’round the intimate space, and my dearest relative Lyle – who recently passed away at age 100 – presided over a beautiful and meaningful ceremony.
But what has stayed with me most of all from that day are the words from Walt Whitman’s Song of the Open Road, a poem we had woven into our wedding vows. I loved the optimism and pure joy that Whitman effuses as he sets out on the Open Road, “healthy, free, the world before me,” and how he ends with a promise, “I give you my love,” and an invitation to “come travel with me.”
For Herb and me, the Open Road has become a metaphor for our lives, a phrase we’ve returned to again and again as we’ve navigated our journey together. From smooth stretches to unexpected detours to bumpy pavements, Whitman’s words have never failed to bring a smile and often a laugh as we’ve attempted to take the metaphor to new levels and meanings!
To celebrate this 45th signpost, Herb and I will be heading to Madrid, a city we’ve been hoping to explore for a very long time. From there, we’ll travel by train to Barcelona and board a ship that will sail southward along the Spanish coast to Morocco – another long-awaited spot on our bucket list – and the Canary Islands. The cruise ends in Lisbon, a city that made such an impression when we first visited eight years ago that I’ve always wished we’d had another day to spend there.
I’m deeply grateful for these extraordinary years on the Open Road. For our children and grandchildren who continue on the journey with us. And for the friends and acquaintances who have joined us along the way, sometimes for short adventures and other times signing on for the entire ride.
It has been a road well-traveled these past forty-five years.
And there are still so many more miles waiting to be explored.
Mazel Tov! We just celebrated our 47th this year and next year, we will celebrate 50:years of loving each other. I believe in carpe diem and 50 years of being in love is something to celebrate!
I suspect you are cruising on Splendor. We arrive in Lisbon on the 9th and board on the 12th. From there we head south along the coast of Africa and end in Cape Town. Have a wonderful voyage and enjoy your travels.
Jennifer
Jennifer, thanks so much for the good wishes! And congratulations to you on your 47th as well! I completely agree with you about “carpe diem,” and I love celebrating the milestones and special moments in our lives.
We will be sailing on the Seabourn Sojourn and will arrive in Lisbon after you’ve sailed. I hope that one day we will find ourselves in the same city at the same time…or on the same cruise! Wishing you safe and happy travels on the Splendor!😊
I’ll be curious to read about your impressions of Seaborne. We need new itineraries and Regent no longer holds the same charm it once did. We re trying Viking ocean next fall as a “taste test”.
This will be our fourth time traveling with Seabourn and our first on Sojourn. We’ve found it quite similar to Regent, with some ships a little smaller, like the Sojourn, which accommodates around 400 passengers. Our previous Seabourn itineraries (Antarctica, Australia/New Zealand and Norway) had expedition teams and zodiacs on board, which was a fantastic, “best of both worlds” way to experience those parts of the world. Sadly, that is now changing, with Seabourn’s two new expedition ships taking over the zodiac option. For me, it always comes down to itinerary – places we’ve yet to explore and intriguing excursions with the ship or on our own – and we’ve had some wonderful adventures on both lines. I look forward to hearing about your Viking experience!
Happy anniversary to you! Your wedding was so lovely! And what an incredible life you have had together. Have a wonderful trip! Love you!
So great to hear from you, Mary! Many thanks for the good wishes. I have wonderful memories of that day, and I’m so happy you were there to share it with us. Sending love to you and Ed! ❤️
Beautiful post, Mary, as usual. Steve and I still remember that happy and increasingly historic (ha!) day at the Woman’s Club. We feel so fortunate to have “traveled” alongside you and Herb all these years. Wishing you continued happiness and a fantastic trip. We’re looking forward to photos and play-by-play in upcoming posts!
Dixie, I thought of you when I was pulling out the main photo for this post. There near the left-hand corner are you and Steve – the first friends Herb and I made “as a couple” and still two of the most treasured people we’ve ever known. I love that you refer to that day as “increasingly historic,” and I think our friendship has been that as well. Thanks for the lovely wishes, and I can’t wait to provide the “play-by-play”! ❤️
Happy Anniversary!!! Your celebration trip starting in Madrid and ending in Lisbon a good itinerary.
You will enjoy the Museums in Madrid Can’t wait to hear all about the trip on your blog
Jacqueline, thank you! I’m quite excited about this itinerary as well. We have visited Barcelona twice, but Madrid is one of those places that has eluded us. I’m greatly looking forward to seeing the museums and all the beautiful architecture. We have an exciting agenda planned…and I promise a full report with stories and photos when we return!
Mary, I absolutely love your joyful wedding photo. What a day that must have been. Happy 45th anniversary! Enjoy your cruise. I look forward to all the reports!
Susan, thanks so much for the wonderful wishes and lovely comment! I have that photo framed in our house, and it never fails to make me smile. I was happy to read your positive reviews of the Sojourn a few months ago and look forward to experiencing a ship that is new to us. Greetings from Herb and greetings to Josiah!
We had a very good experience on Sojourn. Our only criticism is a lack of alternatives for lunch dining on the days we were having lunch onboard, especially in bad weather. You may not see this as your weather may be much better. I think this is something Seabourn needs to address. The ship itself is in great form and the crew was outstanding. Have a fabulous voyage. We wish we were going to be there with you and Herb!
Thanks for the additional information, Susan. Our weather hopefully will be a little warmer than what you experienced near the Arctic Circle, but you never know these days! I wish you and Josiah were on this cruise with us as well. We had such a great time getting to know you on our Norway voyage and hope we’ll find ourselves on the same ship again! 😊
Mary and Herb, we send our heartfelt congratulations to you both, having set out on our own journey just months after you. So many special memories and hopefully plenty more to come! Such a beautifully written post as ever, we look forward to hearing all about your Iberian adventure too.
Thank you, dear Gill! These milestone adventures are really special, aren’t they! 😉 So glad to have you following on your own journey in a few months. And as always, it will be great fun to share photos and stories!
Mary, you haven’t changed a bit.
And Herb…. well….., he still looks great too!
Wishing you the happiest of anniversaries and a fabulous cruise!
Bob, you absolutely made my day…and Herb’s too!! Thank you!
I really appreciate the good wishes and look forward to sharing tales from land and sea when we return!
Love this. Happy Anniversary. Looking forward to traveling along on the upcoming adventures via your Modern Postcards I so enjoy.
Aww, thanks so much, Linda. That means a lot. I love having you traveling along!😊
Congratulations on your anniversary.
‘Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.’
Have a wonderful journeys.
myron at Senterra
Myron, I’m so happy to hear from you! We miss seeing you out on our neighborhood Open Road! I love that you included the beginning of the poem here; I thought about posting more of Whitman’s beautiful words, but I know this is a travel blog and not a poetry blog – hahaha! – so I settled for a few favorite lines. Thank you for the good wishes, and happy journeys to you as well!
Omg Mary! Your wedding photo really made me smile! Happy Anniversary to both of you. You only have 8 more years to catch up to us😂. Safe travels…
Chris
Many thanks for the anniversary wishes, Chris. I’m happy the photo of our younger selves brought a smile to your day! You and Frank have quite a celebratory number as well! Much love to you both❤️.
If you are still planning, Patty and I had a great food tour in Tangiers.
Guide has been at it for 40 years and took us to all the food places you’d want to see..
Hi Carter, I’m literally writing this to you from Tangier! We arrived last night and have a cooking class booked this morning. Your food tour suggestion is spot on…many thanks! I will definitely reach out for your guide’s information if we plan a return visit.
Happy Anniversary, Mary and Herb! Wonderful to see your photos and hear your stories!
So great to hear from you, Debbie! Many thanks for the anniversary wishes. Sending love to you and Charlie!