November 16 last year is the fateful day I got the definitive news that changed my life.

By then I ‘d been in hospital for 8 days going through tests and everything else that goes along with a cancer diagnosis. I’d just had laparoscopic surgery for a biopsy and the GYN/surgeon came to visit me after I had very gently been given the diagnosis. He’s a lovely man and from reading his bio, a pretty religious one as well. He said to me as he sat at my bedside, “Have you considered end of life?” And I sort of looked at him and think I said something like, “Well, I believe I’ll come back as a cat or something,” not really getting what he was trying to get to because I don’t think that way. And I suppose I was in shock, too from the diagnosis. He didn’t pursue it,  neither did any of the other doctors. And I have put off thinking about that scenario because it’s just beyond my comprehension that my life could come to an end at some stage soon. 

My thinking is always about the current adventure and what’s next on the horizon. But in the last couple of months, while I’ve been going through chemo, I’ve been thinking that maybe my life will have to change, that maybe I won’t be taking off on trips anymore, going off exploring. But my mind doesn’t dwell on it because I don’t want to even consider that as an option. Thinking this way my entire life has brought me to this time, and I really don’t think my mind is going to start thinking any other way!

The Instigator

For you who know my son Ryan, you know he’s a chip off my block, and his Dad’s too. Ryan is a traveler of note, more of a traveler than I ever was, constantly on the move, looking for new adventures and places to go, always looking for deals and using miles that he’s accumulated to get where he’s going.

Yesterday when we talked, which is a frequent occurrence, he told me about an amazing trip to the Serengeti that I wrote off as being way beyond me. But when Ryan heard that I had always wanted to do the Serengeti trip and that it has been on my bucket list “like forever” (add Valley Girl accent here), he said we have to do it. And it made me rethink my earlier thoughts about having to stop doing any adventuring. And I realize that no, I don’t have to and probably won’t ever stop!

This trip would be something that is completely different from anything I’ve ever considered. I’ve done very little luxury traveling. It’s always been pretty much seat of the pants and budget travel. Except when I was working for Country Life (now defunct) and I did numerous trips to individual game lodges in South Africa, but that’s on a whole different level than going as a paying customer.

Ryan said “Mum, look at the price. And look at what’s included.” Later, he sent me a text saying “I think we should book it! We can always cancel and if it has been a dream of yours, we should do it!” I looked at the site again and the information he sent and started drooling. Going to the Serengeti would be a dream come true, especially doing a hot air balloon ride over the Great Plains, hopefully during the Great Migration. The trip looks phenomenal and the rate for what was included was also mind-blowing - in a good way.

He booked it!

It pretty much depends on my health when we will go. It would be a mother-son trip, with the possibility of Ryan’s partner coming with us. It’s interesting how just the thought of it, knowing that my traveling days are not over, has lifted my spirits. It really is an exciting prospect to think of 8 days traveling in the Serengeti, with private planes and luxury accommodation. Of course, it would be considered a company retreat (haha) so we better continue selling a lot of underwear!.

This has given my life a new perspective. I’m in the middle of chemo. I’ve had 3 sessions and have 3 to go. It limits what I can do now for sure, as I am constantly fatigued; anything I do wears me out. But this trip can be done anytime in the next 18 months. So it’s some thing I can dream of, study the places we would go, and generally keep my spirits up!

Whether this will be part of Ryan’s trip over here this year or whether it will be an additional trip, I don’t know yet. So much hinges on my health - and his work schedule. He is hoping to come over sometime this year whether we go on a big trip like this or whether we do more localized trips, like to the Cape and wine country and the penguins! And mini safaris to Hluhluwe and Kruger National Park. But just the idea of ticking off something on my bucket list is intriguing.

And overarching all of it is the knowledge I will be spending time with Ryan, showing him the country he hasn’t seen since he was six.

I’m already researching and dreaming but just knowing the trip is out there is a a massive immune booster for me.

And no, I’ve not given any more thought to “end of life” as my mind refuses to go there.

Note: The lion photo is one I took in 2004 at Tembe Elephant Park in Northern KwaZulu Natal. It is a slide so reproduction is not so good.