My Travelin' Buddy

Something that you may not know about me is that I get cold sores when I travel. It's weird and uncomfortable but it's true.

Several years ago we went to Hawaii. The preparation for this trip was really stressful. Conner was about 6 months old, and being first-time parents, we were hyper-alert to every possible problem or situation that may present itself. When we left for the airport we had: his car seat, his pack 'n' play, his stroller, if we could have figured out a way to bring his high chair we would have. Everything that we could pack we decided to bring. By the time we landed in Hawaii I had a cold sore the size of Maine on my lip.

A few years later, we went to California. This time we were traveling with two small children, so, even though we didn't try to pack the entire house, we still had a lot of stuff. Kedar was determined that we could manage all of it. If we each carried three bags and one child we would be fine. Who needs one of those $2 carts? Those things are for wimps! We were getting our luggage at the baggage claim in the John Wayne Airport and I could feel a huge cold sore on my top lip. "What!?" I thought, "Not again!"

So, this has become the pattern: travel - stress - cold sore.

Kedar and I are flying out today to enjoy some fun in the sun and my bottom lip is already tingling. But in all the years that this strange condition has plagued me, it has never kept me from having a great time while traveling. There is always enough fun to go around. While my cold sore is partying there on my lip, I can enjoy being with Kedar in the mild California climate. I am sure my cold sore and I will both have a great vacation!