Thank you, Ken, Kelly, Lynn, Michele and the world.

A two-month round the world trip doesn’t happen overnight. The trip Kelly and I took to celebrate her doctorate was truly a family affair. Thank you to all of you – you are the best family ever!!!!

First thank you goes to my wonderful husband Ken for encouraging me to go on the trip. Although he was invited to join Kelly and me, he decided he didn’t want to be gone that long. So he cheered us on, took care of our dear Holly and held down the fort at home. Thank you, Ken for being the loving and supportive husband you always are! He never even asked how much it all cost!

There aren’t too many 31-year-olds that would eagerly agree to travel for two months with a 66-year-old aunt. But Kelly was all in from the first mention of the trip. In addition, she became the local tour guide, handled all the maps and directions and even learned what I liked to eat so well that I often asked her to order my meals!

Kelly was a delight to travel with, found humor in whatever we did – especially sitting in the Emergency Room in Israel. She followed in the family profession and turned out to be a great nurse, too. Thank you Kelly for being the smart, funny and sensitive person you are. You are the best traveling companion in the world!!!

Brother-in-law Lynn joined Kelly and me in Dubai and traveled with us through the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. Lynn made us feel like princesses. He organized the cars and drivers, took care of all the tipping and even told us when to get up in the morning! (That’s an inside joke about one of our guides who thought Kelly and I were idiots – after Lynn returned home – and told us when we should get up and have breakfast!) Lynn, you were a joy to travel with and we especially thank you for the free rooms in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain. Thank you Marriott points!!!

Sister Michele was with us the whole way – at least in spirit. We Facetimed, Skyped and texted (when a few countries banned the aforementioned methods of communication). Michele wanted to know all the details of every day and listened eagerly while we described our adventures. She loved seeing our shopping treasures and cheered us on every country of the trip. Thanks, Michele. You are the best sister a girl could ever have!

Thank you to all the family, to all the wonderful guides and drivers we had throughout the trip, to the people we met who helped us understand the cultures and sights we saw.

But most of all, thank you America. We learned how much we treasure our freedoms, our clean water, our fabulous health care system, our magnificent highways and our comforting food.

After we rest up from these kidney stones, where do you want to go next family?