Publisher’s Note from Dreams Travel Issue 2019
Staying connected with immediate and extended family has become much more difficult as people move around the country and the globe unlike any other time in history. Our rapid technology has not only changed the world of commerce, but also significantly changed the dynamics of the nuclear family.
In today’s world where iPhones and computers keep us connected thousands of miles apart, the “human element” is missing. Family connection cannot be replaced with technology. There is just something special about holding and hugging your grandchildren, sharing time with your grown children, taking a walk with your brother or sister, and sitting next to your aunt or uncle and learning about family.
When I left my family in New York at the age of 18 to start college, my journey took me 3,000 miles away to California. That meant no Sunday family dinners with the parents, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins. Birthdays and events were missed. But I committed to stay connected even if we were 3,000 miles apart.
The one tradition I kept was the holidays. In my family there are five other brothers and sisters, 14 nieces and nephews, plus their spouses and 12 children. It wasn’t always easy having family come here or traveling back East with my sons, but it was always the priority so we could remain close with family.
Of course, there are vacation escapes planned within our tight schedules to places we can explore and relax. We visit great beach resorts, go on adventurous ski trips, explore diverse cultures and find ways to achieve pure relaxation.
But it’s hard to get the entire family on the same trip! So today, we plan a yearly reunion in New York on Long Island. For me, this annual family reunion is as important as my escape vacations. These special trips provide a reinvigoration of the soul and sense of being.
Watching my two grandchildren interact along with their excitement to learn of the stories that are being passed down from one generation to another, their similarities in physical looks and personalities, gives them a strong sense of belonging and history.
So, when planning your vacations, be sure to include a family get-together with parents, siblings, nieces, nephews and special cousins… it’s great energy for the heart and soul!
Steve Tobia, Publisher Dreams Magazine
