The statement “life is a journey” is not a new one. School vacation is not a new concept. Combine the two and you’ll find this past week has given many the travel bug.

Marshall and I caught the bug and took to the open road. We had three key destinations on our one week journey, but made a few pitstops along the way.

Many of you know I’ve set a 10-year goal to take some steps at all 63 national parks. The one we could easily pair up with DigStock, the metal-detecting event we were registered to attend in Pinetops, N.C. was Congaree National Park just outside of Columbia, S.C. At first glance on the internet, it seems it’s just a swamp. But, up close and personal, it is an amazing ecosystem full of critters, birds, numerous trails and it preserves the largest area of old growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States.

We also meandered the streets of Charleston and a highlight was popping in to visit Sarah, Ali and Gen Flanders’s aunt at her new coffee shop, Bad Bunnies. I told Sarah our visit with their bubbly aunt Carol brought me back to the days when she and her sisters were little and Joy would pop in with them for a snack, toting a large bottle of seltzer. The three girls would gather, passing the bottle around. Isn’t it funny how memories make their way into the forefront of your mind?

The Oliver clan is big on celebrating half-birthdays. It’s a philosophy I often consider implementing for my own family especially after having slept through my October birthday while in the throes of pneumonia. Hollis celebrated it half decked out in Celtics gear with his parents Liz and Kevin, his siblings Delilah, Barrett and Solon and a couple of others. Big smiles, lots of cheering, shamrocks, game food and, I’ll be honest, I’m not sure if the Celtics won or not. I guess that’s sort of insignificant in the whole scheme of things.

Bridget and Matt Tobin visited with their most-excellent Emma in New Orleans. For now, the Big Easy is home. Matt is already itching to go back. Food, music, sights, culture and kind people make it a remarkable place to visit.

Lydia Fischer ventured to the West Coast. Northern California called to her, but not as loudly as her niece Marni and nephew Tosh did. We can’t forget their parents Emma and Andrew were in the mix, too. Kids are a great excuse to let loose and be that kid at heart so, obviously, a fun and fabulous time was had by all.

The famous hook-shaped peninsula of Cape Cod offered a change of pace for Scott McDowell and Annette Cingle. I failed to confirm their destination was the Chatham Bars Inn, but it often is their quick getaway destination.

As you’ve heard from me before, Abel’s Hill Cemetery is often a place where I stop to take a walk. My mind wanders through conversations with friends who have ceased walking the earth. I smile, I get sad, I laugh to myself and always end my stroll feeling good for having paid a visit.

This week’s walk made me think of Hershel West. I remembered back to the days of chatting with him when I’d walk past the Jessatoma (I may have spelled that wrong, but pronunciation is correct.) Hershel would have been 100 last week.

Speaking of birthdays, I’d like to shout out a very happy one to my darling dad, Frank Tamoshunas, who celebrated his 21st birthday on Feb. 29. Twenty-one? Yes, he is a leap-ling and only counts his actual birthdays.

It’s not happening for a while, but spots fill up quickly so here’s a quick plug for Nancy Aronie’s Writing from the Heart workshop. April 19-21 are the dates the doors will be open at her Chilmark Writing Workshop at 1 West Meadow. The whole scoop can be found if you check out her website, call email chilmarkwritingworkshop.com, call 508-274-4286 or nancyjill73@gmail.com. You are destined to finish your weekend feeling good after time with Nancy.