We are super excited.  My parents from South Carolina are joining us on the Queen Mary and in France and have already left to make their way to NYC, where we pick up the ship.  They are tons of fun and always liven up any party – plus they are expert dancers, so will fit right in on the QM2.

Frank and I leave tomorrow (Tuesday) and take Amtrak to New York.  We are busy packing.  Frank’s approach is much more organized than mine.  He sets out just what he might need in orderly piles by his suitcase and is already packed in one rolling duffel.  I, on the other hand, put everything I possibly may want in the middle of the bed and start trying on things and eliminating.  I have already gone out and bought a new suitcase that will hold more!  Fingers crossed it will close!

Two Fools In Love

We are two fools in love, and this is our new blog. Frank just retired as a rocket scientist from NASA.  Christy just finished up treatment for breast cancer and got the green light from her doctors to travel, while finishing up rest and recovery.  After these two big life events, we decided there is no time like the present and are leaving our “normal” lives and running away to Europe for a year.

Frank’s family hails from Sicily – his parents emigrated from there, came through Ellis Island, and settled in Brooklyn. We will spend a few months in Sicily getting back to his roots (along with other places around the Mediterranean).

Christy has been living on a boat for the last 10 years in Annapolis, Maryland, where she met Frank, and is ready for another adventure they can take together. She is lucky to have a very progressive law firm, so she will continue to work a reduced schedule while on the road.  She specializes in all aspects of HIPAA (believe it or not, that actually is a specialty).

The boats are hauled out of the water for winter storage, the housesitter has moved in, and we are off! Please join us on our adventure!

Next stop: NYC to board the Queen Mary 2 for England!