We’ve been mostly out of range and when we have been, I’m typically driving.
Trying to keep up with the backlog when I can while also trying to selectively avoid it (you are not in the latter group) is a challenge that I choose not to accept while “on vacation”.

Cuba 1992; had to go to the one DHL phone booth and pay up front (“cash” in Cuba then was a whole other story) to get a crappy connection and “chat”. With 2-3 kids at home that whole ordeal was a struggle that always felt like failure despite the longing and effort. My first lesson in “desensitization” and “it’ll all be alright when I(get)’m home”.

Unfortunately it always wasn’t. Then it never was. So now, life on the road is what I’ve learned and made of it. Regardless of the “purpose” it is what it is and who I am (and actually always have been wired for).
Not surprisingly.

You determine who will play first in the board game Ticket to Ride, all the players lists and count the countries they’ve visited, with whoever has the most starting the game.
No matter which of us were playing, Mom always started. It got to be that no one contested. Sometimes, though, when it had been a while, one of us would try to recount a longer list. It was neve longer than Gma D’s. She started before us and though she was a full-time mom all those years, no one overtook her. I wonder if we have yet.

That’s my clan. We have them travelin’ bones. She was the irascible fearless leader. I feel fortunate to have a kindred road heart with Tami. She was Mom’s friend before we met. Not surprising either. It’s been a good trip, this one. Every one is always better than those previous.

But y’know; every day we talk about you guys. That is always consistent. You are always in our lives regards wherever we roam. I’m not sure if that resonates or matters or outweighs consistent proximity. Don’t know if it ever will or I will ever understand the context (or lack of, perhaps). But it will never change for us. We will travel until we can’t. We always hold you dear and close and always will.