This week I was supposed to share a story from my trip to Guatemala. Then I remembered something that happened in Honduras. So back to Honduras we go. Each time we go on trips we have to find people to watch our dog and cat. When we lived in the States friends were the first ones we asked. Usually, we didn’t have any issues. Most of our friends are animal lovers and all of us took turns watching each other’s pets. If I had a long day at work I could call my neighbor and she would happily take Miles out for me and vice versa. If I had a day at home, I would “collect” Miles’s friends on the deck for playtime. It was so easy—most of the time.
When we left for Honduras everything was set. The boys were with friends. Halfway through the trip I started to examine our itinerary. That’s when I realized we had one extra day in Honduras. Fantastic news. Who wouldn’t want to spend another day in tropical paradise!
Hold on a second, what about the boys? I started sending out frantic emails. I knew the couple watching the boys couldn’t watch them for another day since they were leaving Boston that day. It was close to the 4th of July so chances were many people would be away. I started getting emails saying, “Sorry can’t do it, but let me ask so and so.” It was a nervous few hours.
Then I received an email from one of your good friends who had just returned from a trip. Of course they would watch them. No trouble at all. What a relief. And lesson learned. Check the dates before making pet arrangements. Now when I make plans for the boys I send an itinerary to the pet sitters in advance so they know our dates and flights. Apparently I’m not that responsible and need someone to check up on me. I probably shouldn’t mention my degrees in history. You’d think dates would be my thing. But I tell people all the time that history isn’t just about dates. It’s the greatest story ever told. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.
And next week the Guatemala stories will begin. Don’t worry, even though I learned a lot from my trip to Honduras, I still made one mistake after another. Each trip I keep hoping I don’t have to deal with issues. Not realistic I know.
50 Year Project 
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO YOU!!! Muah! Lots of love, Emily 🙂
Thanks Emily. You too!
Happy Valentine’s Day!!! I know what you mean about getting things arranged for the “kids”. I fortunately have a fabulous teenager girl who comes and takes care of them when we travel but we usually get mauled when we get home because our kitties are so darn spoiled. I have had “sitters” in the past who were less than stellar so it is nice to not worry when we are gone now.
I know what you mean. the boys let me know when we left them with a dud. It’s much harder now that we live so far from home. However, I love my boys so all the hardships are worth it. Happy Valentine’s day!
But making mistakes is the way to learn, isn´t it? So, you become wiser and wiser every time!!! 🙂 (Do not feel better now? Happy Valentine´s Day!)
I do remind myself of that all the time and I hope by the time I’m 80 I have life figured out. Happy Valentine’s Day!
🙂
Going on vacation can be nerve wracking and there is always something that needs checking. I am lucky in that we have a wonderful baby-dog sitter who has yet to let us down!
That’s great. A good sitter is worth their weight in gold–but I can’t pay them that
I LOVE my cats but when it’s time for holidays it is so difficult.
So much green… I’m not sure now, are the photos from Honduras or Guatemala? It seems well worth visiting.
These are from Honduras. Guatemala is just as beautiful but very different. More volcanoes and not so tropical–at least where we visited.
We learn from our mistakes, or do we? Luscious vegetation.
I hope so
I have just two things to say. First, I really want to go there right now and second, thank goodness for the internet!! 🙂
You should go!
I have messed up like that before too. Now I call to make sure everything is in place, especially if we’re leaving the country. My worst nightmare is that we don’t have arrangements for Rocky and our flight is leaving in two hours.
It is stressful. Rocky is such a sweetheart!
I love the shot of the little snake. Precious!
that little guy didn’t scare me–much
That would have been nerve-wracking.
Yes … fortunately there was beer to help me
I now book the Cattery before the holiday. No space in the Cattery, no holiday. Not great for the spontaneous getaway, but that’s part of the deal.
I understand. We have cancelled trips when the pet sitter has fallen through. And now Att can’t be left alone even for a day. But I love them and so the trouble is worth it.
I had 2 precious dogs who both passed away a couple of years ago and I never wanted to leave them. And at the end they needed special care, in which case I would not leave them. I fully understand your feelings. This place is gorgeous! I use to work with a Principal that would go to Honduras every summer to help rebuild houses.
I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. Our boys are getting older and Atticus needs pills and special attention. Fortunately we have found some wonderful ladies who like to stay here and take care of the boys. It’s a relief knowing they are being cared for.
Not making any mistakes would be totally non-human, so you’re in good company! And I’ve found that travelling always throws new challenges at you, no matter how often you’ve done it and how much experience you have – there will always be something to learn. 😉
There was a dog walker in our neighborhood who we would hire to watch our dogs every time we went out of town. She spoiled them! I could tell because every time we passed her house during our walks, they would get excited. We are currently pet-less, except for all the wild critters that visit us regularly.
She sounds like a fantastic pet sitter. I love seeing all the wild critters that share your world.
We usually boarded pets at our vet. Didn’t have good experience leaving them with others.
Dealing with the issues are what gives us all these wonderful stories, providing of course they work out in the end! We did something similar – but not with the dog care. We booked a holiday and accommodation one year but had mistaken the date we left. Luckily we realised before we left and had to sort out a hotel for the extra night! Phew.
Lynn 😀
That’s something I would do. Now I have minor panic attacks before I hit the button to pay for a trip–did I get the dates right? Right Flights? Pet sitters–so stressful!