Most
of our friends are starting to travel extensively to far away places for long periods of time.
Most
of our friends are travelling as a pair.
We
travel as a trio for the most part. I refer to Riley as our “third wheel” (spoken with love and affection of course).
My friend’s term of endearment for their third is “ball and chain”. I’m stealing
that from her because I love it and I think it sounds more ummm…endearing than third wheel.
The
last couple of trips we have taken as a trio, I have been more aware of things that typically a person would probably not notice
or even have to think about unless you are travelling with an adult-child with
special needs. Things that have just become our “normal” in Riley World.
Having
to explain to airport personnel/security for the umpteenth time that “He has
autism” when they comment that he should be carrying his own passport/boarding
pass etc. In my inside voice I’m saying “Sure…I’ll
let him carry his own passport and let’s see how smoothly THAT goes.” Just to clarify, we have never had a bad experience…just gets tiring
sometimes. But then there are the times when Riley will
answer questions, ALL the questions repeating the person’s name (because he has
noticed their name tag) EACH AND EVERY TIME and it brings a smile to that
person’s face.
Making
sure there is enough “down time” throughout the day so Riley doesn’t become
“unglued”. This means G and I take turns doing things because Riley can not be left
alone. I will admit, this also works in my favour for those times when A/C is
more desirable than walking around in +90F temps.
Walking
down the street (not crowded AT ALL) and noticing Riley is getting waaaaaay too
close to the people in front of him and you know he’s not going to slow down or
back off. Can you say “personal space”?!?!?
He won’t run into them, he’ll just keep “on their heels” (and probably
in the same step if at all possible) with them. And no, it would not cross his
mind to go around them because he’s much too “polite” to pass anybody.
Having
a thick skin so when you’re in a crowded space and he starts getting agitated
and talking loud and saying things like “SHUT UP YOU STUPID LADY! I’M GOING TO RUN AWAY!!” you take it in
stride. Sure beats when he used to yell
“DON’T HIT ME!”
Still,
we consider ourselves lucky to be able to travel at all.
Our
criteria is really quite simple. Familiar, routine and under 3 hrs air time is
optimum.
Our
destinations may be the same most of the time but who can pass up a 4+ star
hotel/accommodations for next to nothing.
But
most of all…our tour guide has the best smile EVER!
