What better time to resurrect the Hot Topic – on a steamy August day. A time when we might think of just getting away somewhere else – somewhere with a large pool, hard-bodied cabana boys, (or girls) and a frosty umbrella drink. So, to that end, this Hot Topic is devoted to the concept of travel and getting away either to escape the heat, the cold, or to start a new adventure. And one of our own dear Mondo-ites is doing just that – Sir Mathew Brewster and his lovely wife will leave for China within the week.

We know that mainland China is not a wasteland, and that Sir Mat will have electricity AND Internet access – but how much and how often remains to be seen. So, we are giving him farewells and the like while we ponder the concept of hitting the road.

Godspeed, Brewsters.

Mary (AKA Sir Mary or just The Gurl)

Nearly 20 years ago I got married. (And still am married, which is a funny thing). Now, my martial bliss/woe is wholly separate story, but the honeymoon was special because it was my first time traveling anywhere outside of New England. We were headed not only to exotic Florida (don’t laugh), but would also embark on a four-night cruise to the Bahamas.

Heady stuff.

The day after our wedding we arrived at Boston’s Logan International Airport. I had been there a couple of times, but had never flown on a plane. I was so freakin’ excited I can’t even tell you. I swear I was like a little kid. My husband, who had caught a cold on the wedding day, was feeling pretty draggy. But there I was practically running through the airport in my excitement.

And there was our first married fight. Not fight exactly, just harsh words.

“Slow down! There’s no rush.”

“Oh, sorry.” And I’d slow down. For about a minute. I’d just look around me and nearly squeal with the thrill of the impending trip. And pretty soon my little feet were on the run again.

“Slow DOWN! I FEEL LIKE CRAP!”

And then came the tears. Mine, not his. But overall it was a fantastic trip. We met another couple from Long Island, NY that remain dear friends to this day (although they are now divorced).

There's been quite a few great trips with him, and with our two sons, mostly to Disneyworld in Florida. But there’s been a couple times that were just plain (no pun intended) scary. The first time it was my husband that was traveling, and I was at home. His flight out was fine, without incident. Oh, I forgot to mention the day he left Massachusetts for this business trip was Sept 10, 2001. Yeah, his trip was to New Jersey, too. About a half hour from all the hellish action. I’ll tell you right out, this was one of the suckiest times we’d ever been through as a couple. I’ve written more extensively on this event, how his trip was supposed to be a short stint for disaster recovery testing, but turned into the actual recovery part. I didn’t mention the nightmares both me and my younger son had: his, of his dad crashing in a plane somewhere, and mine, of soldiers of unknown origin patrolling our street.