When my Dad was really young he went on a business trip to the USA. He came home and told my Mum that one day when he had kids he’d take them there. I can still picture the day, as a 12 year old, that my Mum & Dad told us they were taking us to Disneyland. They’d saved for years for the once-in-a-lifetime trip for us all.
And so we did. Our family went to the USA, I was 12. My younger brother must have been 9 and my older brother was 14. It’s about now you get to have a little giggle at the 1980’s clothes and how gawky a 12year old kid really can look.
My brothers are not going to thank me for this.
Here’s one and my younger brother with KIT from nightrider.
That’s an A-Team brochure I’m holding. Those were the days.
And looking back on the experience, which I can do because I kept an extensive scrapbook type diary thing, it was the best time ever. In fact I even mentioned how sad I was leaving the USA “knowing that I was leaving a place that I would probably never ever see again in my whole life”. Little did I know.
Check out the signatures from the flight crew of the plane. This was back in the days where kids got to go up and have a look around the front of the plane. Does anyone know any crew that worked for Air Pacific in the 1980s? They were cool. The flight engineer even wrote the flight details (how fast we were flying etc) up the top there. Priceless stuff. I don’t know that they even have flight engineers now.
Fast forward nearly 30 years. I’ve always wanted to do the same thing for my kids. I’ve always wanted to take them to Disney and do all that. We’ve never been able to afford it, paying as much off the mortgage as we can has always come first in our priorities.
In January I was in Anaheim for CHA. I sat in a restaurant right opposite Disneyland and planned to go there on the Wednesday night before leaving. And then this happened, and within 12 hours I was on a plane home with Disneyland, CHA and everything left behind. It was on that (long, sad) flight home to my family I decided that life is too short, our kids won’t stay kids forever and that even if I had to put money ON the mortgage, I was going to get us to Disneyland.
Today I picked up the tickets. In a few weeks the Howard family is calling in the dog-sitters and going off on the holiday of a lifetime.
Now it’s Abby’s turn to make a little diary. 30 years on.
Sometimes priorities get changed. Sometimes there is no time like the present. We can’t wait.
Laters.
Comments
64 responses to “Heading to the USA …”
awesome for your family..We are going in December:):)
awesome for your family..We are going in December:):)
awesome for your family..We are going in December:):)
awesome for your family..We are going in December:):)
That’s awesome Nic – fantastic story and I can’t wait to see the pictures of the Howard Family. Have a fantastic time – I know you all will 🙂
That’s awesome Nic – fantastic story and I can’t wait to see the pictures of the Howard Family. Have a fantastic time – I know you all will 🙂
That’s awesome Nic – fantastic story and I can’t wait to see the pictures of the Howard Family. Have a fantastic time – I know you all will 🙂
That’s awesome Nic – fantastic story and I can’t wait to see the pictures of the Howard Family. Have a fantastic time – I know you all will 🙂
Oh wow..so exciting for your family. Yes you are quiet right..time moves very very fast and we have to make the most of every single day. Your kids will love it and what wonderful memories you will build on!
Oh wow..so exciting for your family. Yes you are quiet right..time moves very very fast and we have to make the most of every single day. Your kids will love it and what wonderful memories you will build on!
Oh wow..so exciting for your family. Yes you are quiet right..time moves very very fast and we have to make the most of every single day. Your kids will love it and what wonderful memories you will build on!
Oh wow..so exciting for your family. Yes you are quiet right..time moves very very fast and we have to make the most of every single day. Your kids will love it and what wonderful memories you will build on!
Have fun Nic – your kids will absolutely love it.
Have fun Nic – your kids will absolutely love it.
Have fun Nic – your kids will absolutely love it.
Have fun Nic – your kids will absolutely love it.
Nic that is so awesome!! Hope you guys have a super time. Life is INDEED short and you are so right about spending the time with your kids now and making great memories for them.
Nic that is so awesome!! Hope you guys have a super time. Life is INDEED short and you are so right about spending the time with your kids now and making great memories for them.
Nic that is so awesome!! Hope you guys have a super time. Life is INDEED short and you are so right about spending the time with your kids now and making great memories for them.
Nic that is so awesome!! Hope you guys have a super time. Life is INDEED short and you are so right about spending the time with your kids now and making great memories for them.
That is an amazing story. Hope you make many fab memories:)
That is an amazing story. Hope you make many fab memories:)
That is an amazing story. Hope you make many fab memories:)
That is an amazing story. Hope you make many fab memories:)
good for you – nothing like the present and your kids will have a ball !
good for you – nothing like the present and your kids will have a ball !
good for you – nothing like the present and your kids will have a ball !
good for you – nothing like the present and your kids will have a ball !
Awesome Nic. I so agree with that philosophy. We did the same thing just last month and my boys 8 and 11 had the absolute best time ever. Such a happy place for amazing memories of a lifetime.
Awesome Nic. I so agree with that philosophy. We did the same thing just last month and my boys 8 and 11 had the absolute best time ever. Such a happy place for amazing memories of a lifetime.
Awesome Nic. I so agree with that philosophy. We did the same thing just last month and my boys 8 and 11 had the absolute best time ever. Such a happy place for amazing memories of a lifetime.
Awesome Nic. I so agree with that philosophy. We did the same thing just last month and my boys 8 and 11 had the absolute best time ever. Such a happy place for amazing memories of a lifetime.
FANTASTIC! The kids are of the age where they will really enjoy it all-they grow up so quickly.
FANTASTIC! The kids are of the age where they will really enjoy it all-they grow up so quickly.
FANTASTIC! The kids are of the age where they will really enjoy it all-they grow up so quickly.
FANTASTIC! The kids are of the age where they will really enjoy it all-they grow up so quickly.
So excited for your family. It will be a trip that your kids, like you, will never forget. Let the countdown begin.
So excited for your family. It will be a trip that your kids, like you, will never forget. Let the countdown begin.
So excited for your family. It will be a trip that your kids, like you, will never forget. Let the countdown begin.
So excited for your family. It will be a trip that your kids, like you, will never forget. Let the countdown begin.
I think I have to make a plan and also do this for my son. You are right. Life is too short. I too have pictures of me in the 80’s looking every bit as gawky! Some memories are worth some sacrifices.
I think I have to make a plan and also do this for my son. You are right. Life is too short. I too have pictures of me in the 80’s looking every bit as gawky! Some memories are worth some sacrifices.
I think I have to make a plan and also do this for my son. You are right. Life is too short. I too have pictures of me in the 80’s looking every bit as gawky! Some memories are worth some sacrifices.
I think I have to make a plan and also do this for my son. You are right. Life is too short. I too have pictures of me in the 80’s looking every bit as gawky! Some memories are worth some sacrifices.
love this post – you won’t be sorry.
p
xxx
love this post – you won’t be sorry.
p
xxx
love this post – you won’t be sorry.
p
xxx
love this post – you won’t be sorry.
p
xxx
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!! I had the same luxury as you, Nic! And the scraps to prove it! The other day i found my disneyland ticket from 1981. lol!! And i’ve promised to do the same with our family too.. working on it, hopefully soon!! Have the BEST time!!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!! I had the same luxury as you, Nic! And the scraps to prove it! The other day i found my disneyland ticket from 1981. lol!! And i’ve promised to do the same with our family too.. working on it, hopefully soon!! Have the BEST time!!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!! I had the same luxury as you, Nic! And the scraps to prove it! The other day i found my disneyland ticket from 1981. lol!! And i’ve promised to do the same with our family too.. working on it, hopefully soon!! Have the BEST time!!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!! I had the same luxury as you, Nic! And the scraps to prove it! The other day i found my disneyland ticket from 1981. lol!! And i’ve promised to do the same with our family too.. working on it, hopefully soon!! Have the BEST time!!!
So awesome! I love the 1980s scrapbook, that is really priceless. Have a fabulous trip and enjoy every second of it!!
So awesome! I love the 1980s scrapbook, that is really priceless. Have a fabulous trip and enjoy every second of it!!
So awesome! I love the 1980s scrapbook, that is really priceless. Have a fabulous trip and enjoy every second of it!!
So awesome! I love the 1980s scrapbook, that is really priceless. Have a fabulous trip and enjoy every second of it!!
Awesome! Love the 80s scrapbook it’s in the blood huh! Have a fantastic time 🙂
Awesome! Love the 80s scrapbook it’s in the blood huh! Have a fantastic time 🙂
Awesome! Love the 80s scrapbook it’s in the blood huh! Have a fantastic time 🙂
Awesome! Love the 80s scrapbook it’s in the blood huh! Have a fantastic time 🙂
What a beautiful post! Love your diary and that Abby will be making her own. Have an absolutely awesome time (silly me, of course you will).
What a beautiful post! Love your diary and that Abby will be making her own. Have an absolutely awesome time (silly me, of course you will).
What a beautiful post! Love your diary and that Abby will be making her own. Have an absolutely awesome time (silly me, of course you will).
What a beautiful post! Love your diary and that Abby will be making her own. Have an absolutely awesome time (silly me, of course you will).