So I have that song, made famous the ketchup commerical, stuck in my head. Poor Carly Simon… ANTICIPATION, Anticipaayshun….it’s making me wait. I remember a time when the anticipation made me crazy! You remember that feeling you had when you were a kid on Christmas Eve lying in bed waiting for Santa to come? Or maybe you remember those last few looooong weeks before school let out for summer vacation? Agonizing, right?
Well now, the anticipation of my vacation is half the fun. I almost make a party of it. In May, I’m joining friends for a Disney Cruise Line Mexican Riviera Cruise. And before that, we’re going to Disneyland, where I will meet up with some friends and clients. In anticipation, I’ve set up dinners at Mexican restaurants for us to "channel" our ports. There, my travel companions chit chat about our shore excursion choices over our queso fundido. Can I tell you that I’m so excited to be doing a Canopy Tour (zip lining) for the first time in my life?! I can’t wait….but I’m enjoying the thinking about it.
I’ve also talked about restaurant choices with my close friend in California. She informs me that although we see each other annually at Walt Disney World, that Disneyland is her home turf! (She’s also my Club 33 connection…but sshhhh! That’s between you and me.) She is as giddy about meeting me on her "turf" as I am about returning to Disneyland!
And I’ve been "crafty" in anticipation of my trip. There are mouse ear magnets to make for our stateroom door and cute designs to design to let everyone know that that is our space for that week.
Then, my mom twisted my arm and told me I had to go shopping in Mexico and get her something cute. I have no idea what she means by cute. But hey, if I can talk about shopping, all is good. I informed her there would be plenty of time for shopping as one of my travel companions is the most thorough shopper I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. So I’ll find her something cute, by my standards at least!
The shopper in me is also aching to shop for a new dress for the cruise. So when I have a free moment, which isn’t often, I find myself checking out some of my favorite clothing store sites to see what’s new for spring.
There’s the foodie in me. She’s anticipating dinners on the ship. And in anticipation has been putting in a few extra hours a week at the gym.
Many of my clients have ways of anticipating their trips too. Some of the ways are like mine. Those with kids, love to do countdowns with paper chains or get the kids involved with the planning so they can better handle the anticipation!
As you can tell, my childhood dislike for the "anticipation part" has grown into a fond appreciation for the process of it. It’s probably why I became I travel planner in the first place. Not only can I anticipate my own vacations, I can anticipate everyone else’s too!
