Untitled Document

I- The Dream

A Year before the Trip

When had the dream first come to life? Had it lay dormant since our visit to Europe in 1970, exploring all those countries together in that little red VW? Since our retreat in the woods near Mendocino, CA, in 1986, when we decided to change careers and take more time for ourselves?

The first time we spoke of it, a larger company was swallowing the one I worked for. I would get 10 months pay if they dropped me. I asked Marguerite, "What should I do if they lay me off?"

"We could go to Europe for a year." She smiled tentatively.

It may have been a serious suggestion... or not. We didn't explore it deeply, but it made me feel better about the possibility of getting canned. "We'll take off to Europe for a year," became our standard reply when asked about our contingency plans. The company didn't fire me, but the dream gnawed at my thoughts and popped up in discussions with Marguerite from then on.

A few years later I met Lester and Esther in my writers' group. They took Marguerite and me under their wings and told us about their seasons in Europe twenty years ago. From then on, we'd known there would come a time for us to spend the year... but when?

I was getting itchy to 'go for it,' but Marguerite held back. Even though she felt burned out after fourteen years as a Marriage and Family Therapist, all that time away from family, all that time not earning money- all those security issues- kept her from agreeing.

The dream... the idea... the realization that it wasn't a 'crazy' idea, for me, was founded in my father's death when he was 55 and I was 20. It was

Edward T. Webster grew up in Connecticut. He stayed in New England long enough to earn a Master's Degree in mathmatics. Moving to California, he earned a degree in enviromental engineering. He is presently a contract administrator for the Ventura County Transportation Commission. He and his wife Marguerite co-ficilitate group therapy sessions for the blind. A Year of Sundays is his first book .


by Edward T. Webster

The following is an excerpt from my nonfiction book, "A Year of Sundays," (VanderWyk and Burnham, 2004) about the year when my (blind) wife, Marguerite, and I followed our dream by taking off a year and taking our 16 year old cat with us to Europe. --Edward D. Webster I- The Dream A Year before the Trip When had the dream first come to life? Had it lay dormant since our visit to Europe in 1970, exploring all those countries together in that little red VW? Since our retreat in the woods near Mendocino, CA, in 1986, when we decided to change careers and take more time for ourselves? The first time we spoke of it, a larger company was swallowing the one I worked for. I would get 10 months pay if they dropped me. I asked Marguerite, "What should I do if they lay me off?" "We could go to Europe for a year." She smiled tentatively. It may have been a serious suggestion... or not. We didn't explore it deeply, but it made me feel better about the possibility of getting canned. "We'll take off to Europe for a year," became our standard reply when asked about our contingency plans. The company didn't fire me, but the dream gnawed at my thoughts and popped up in discussions with Marguerite from then on. A few years later I met Lester and Esther in my writers' group. They took Marguerite and me under their wings and told us about their seasons in Europe twenty years ago. From then on, we'd known there would come a time for us to spend the year... but when? I was getting itchy to 'go for it,' but Marguerite held back. Even though she felt burned out after fourteen years as a Marriage and Family Therapist, all that time away from family, all that time not earning money- all those security issues- kept her from agreeing. The dream... the idea... the realization that it wasn't a 'crazy' idea, for me, was founded in my father's death when he was 55 and I was 20. It was	founded in the reminders our bodies gave us that things were changing and not for the better; the fact that one or both of us, like my father, might not live to retire, might not be healthy enough to enjoy a trip in 15 years. The chance for spending a generous portion of time in each other's company could vanish with a heartbeat or ebb away with the progression of a disabling illness. Marguerite might be lost to me or I to her, leaving one huge regret that we never made the opportunity. I came to believe that this year away was one of the most sensible things we could do. It was out of the question for us to put it off. It was early 1996, and we sat in the living room of our country home in Southern California. Felicia rested on my lap, as I read aloud from an issue of International Travel News. Marguerite snuggled into the couch beside me, a blissful look settling on her face. "It would be great to live without a schedule, wouldn't it? To explore Provence... the Greek islands... with absolutely no demands." "Then I have a deal for you..." I set the magazine on the end table. "We can spend this year planning and saving- read and research and enjoy the heck out of doing it- then take off in '97." "If we don't go pretty soon, I'll have to find a new career." As I hugged her, I felt nonsensical joy seeping into my heart. She rested her head against my shoulder, then pulled back, her expression sober. "If we go that long, my blindness will be more of an issue. I won't have a support system, no drivers to take me places, no telephone. I won't be able to arrange things or do simple chores like laundry. I'll be so very dependent on you, and you may get tired of it." "No one loves spending time together like you and I do. We'll do fine, better than fine." "But..." "We've been messing around with this idea too long. It's like getting married. I'm ready to make a commitment; are you?" She frowned, but slowly a broad smile spread over her face. " Oh yes . I want to go." END
Edward T. Webster grew up in Connecticut. He stayed in New England long enough to earn a Master's Degree in mathmatics. Moving to California, he earned a degree in enviromental engineering. He is presently a contract administrator for the Ventura County Transportation Commission. He and his wife Marguerite co-ficilitate group therapy sessions for the blind. A Year of Sundays is his first book .

The following is an excerpt from my nonfiction book, "A Year of Sundays," (VanderWyk and Burnham, 2004) about the year when my (blind) wife, Marguerite, and I followed our dream by taking off a year and taking our 16 year old cat with us to Europe. --Edward D. Webster

I- The Dream

A Year before the Trip

The following is an excerpt from my nonfiction book, "A Year of Sundays," (VanderWyk and Burnham, 2004) about the year when my (blind) wife, Marguerite, and I followed our dream by taking off a year and taking our 16 year old cat with us to Europe.
--Edward D. Webster