Reliving past vacations!

 

Fear of COVID-19 and travel restrictions are preventing us from going on a vacation to even nearby places. In the last one year, yielding to the desire to travel we did dare to go to a few nearby places on very short trips, by taking a lot of precautions but not to any far off places, of which we had plans. The trips were happy, but on our return, we had to take precautions like resorting to the routine of steam inhalation and drinking hot water for few days.

Until good times return and travel becomes fearless we are resorting to relive our past vacations whenever the urge for travel crops up.

Fortunately in my journal that is my blog – Raghu’s column! there are details of almost all my vacations with photographs, and all my photo collection and video collection are well organised and easy to reach any time. On YouTube too there are videos of our vacations. And I have detailed information on most places visited by me in the form of spiral-bound booklets, prepared by me before the vacation as a travel guide containing particulars/copies of our travel itinerary, tickets, hotel particulars and detailed information about the place/places being visited and sightseeing details. So once we decide to recall a vacation, it is very easy to do so in depth. And it is quite refreshing and amusing. 

Here is one photographic illustration of how we are reliving our past vacations. It is all about one day at one place, of a five-day vacation, to three different local places. Looking at these pictures, bring back to life happy memories of the vacation. Perhaps this is the only way to overcome travel dreams and craving until the world becomes safe, for fearless travel.

‘If Tomorrow Starts Without Me’, A Poem by David Romano, and Read by N. Raghu.

 NARRATION OF THE POEM (VIDEO):

THE TEXT OF THE POEM FOLLOWS:

If tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not there to see,

If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me;

I wish so much you wouldn't cry the way you did today,

While thinking of the many things we didn't get to say.

I know how much you care for me, and how much I care for you,

and each time that you think of me I know you'll miss me too;

But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand,

that an angel came and called my name and took me by the hand,

and said my place was ready in heaven far above,

and that I'd have to leave behind all those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away, a tear fell from my eye,

for all life, I'd always thought I didn't want to die.

I had so much to live for and so much yet to do,

it seemed almost impossible that I was leaving you.

I thought of all the love we shared and all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday, I thought, just for a while,

I'd say goodbye and hug you and maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realised that this could never be,

for emptiness and memories would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things that I'd miss; come tomorrow,

I thought of you, and when I did, my heart was filled with sorrow.

But when I walked through Heaven's gates, I felt so much at home.

When God looked down and smiled at me, from His great golden throne,

He said, "This is eternity and all I've promised you,

Today your life on earth is past but here it starts anew.

I promise no tomorrow, but today will always last,

and since each day's the same, there's no longing for the past.

But you have been so faithful, so trusting, so true.

Though there were times you did some things you knew you shouldn't do.

And you have been forgiven and now at last you're free.

So won't you come and take my hand and share my life with me?"

So if tomorrow starts without me, don't think we're far apart,

for every time you think of me, please know I'm in your heart.

David Romano