Column: The Travel Bug

Recently, I began cleaning the basement. Our basement has been the catch-all for many years, and I really didn’t remember what was down there. Of course, when you begin to sort the keepers from the throw-aways, memories begin to emerge from your past, which brings me to the beginnings of the re-infestation of the Travel Bug.

Packed away in a blanket box was a small plastic bag that contained a crocheted dress. It is a golden yellow and fits a baby less than one year old. Upon that discovery, the Travel Bug wormed its way into my mind again!

That dress was lovingly made by my late, great aunt Lena Ryerson of Morristown. She made it for me when I was about 10 months old. My mother was so thrilled with the gift that she had my picture taken in it.  I have the picture somewhere in the basement. I haven’t found it yet. This is an important find in my life because Aunt Lena was a traveler.

Lena grew up in Shelby County, graduated from DePauw University and moved to New York City to teach art. After she married at the ripe old age of 32, a spinster in that era, she and her husband, Floyd, moved back to Indiana to live on one of the three farms my great-grandfather, Leander Billman, had purchased as a legacy for his three children.

I was about 11 years old when Aunt Lena, who never had children, began to travel again. She had already attended the Chicago World’s Fair and brought back a fiberglass men’s tie. Long ago the fiberglass did not stand up to the ages and had to be thrown away. Fiberglass clothing had been touted to be the clothing of the future! It was certainly a conversation starter over the years.  

She also traveled to the Smokies and Nashville, Tennessee, on numerous occasions. She would talk about sitting on the porch of the hotel where they were staying with fellow travelers. She made many new friends and talked at length about their culture. Her new friends visited her often in Morristown. 

She traveled by train and boat to Puerto Rico about that time. She brought back exotic presents such as castanets and a pair of maracas, not to mention colorful clothes and wraps, things I had never seen. I was smitten, and I wanted to go to all those places.

Her next big trip was to France and Switzerland. For that trip, my mother drove Lena to Indianapolis to shop for clothes. Her beautiful, new lace dresses and formal wear filled a steamer trunk. She flew to Europe and went on an extensive tour. I begged to go but my parents said no. I was too young, they said. 

Aunt Lena brought back Chanel #5 perfume, which I recently saw priced at about $100 a bottle, and a beautiful Swiss watch for me, which I still have, and lots of goodies for my parents. I was determined to go to France and Switzerland some day. My Travel Bug became more intense.

Many more trips followed.

Lena’s last big adventure was to Hawaii. She was 82 and in failing health. My mother insisted she get a note from her doctor that she was well enough to go. So, Aunt Lena went to see her cousin, a doctor who lived in a nearby county. The doctor wrote to my mother that Lena was indeed in good enough health and wished her a good trip.  

Hearing about all of Lena’s adventures has kept the Travel Bug alive and well in my mind.  

As it turned out for me, however, life happens and for many years travel was put on the back burner when I married and our family and careers grew. Then, after retirement, I went to work part time at Shelby Senior Services and eventually became the Travel Coordinator.  

My Travel Bug is being satisfied with wonderful trips to many parts of the world, not to mention here in the United States. This year marks the 14th year of travel for me.

Aunt Lena would be proud! 

And, I am not jealous of my friend Kris Meltzer for visiting Detroit. We took a Mystery Tour there three years ago and toured Henry Ford Museum (photo), Motown Museum, and lots more! 

I’m glad he has the Travel Bug, too.

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