I didn’t realize that traveling could be — what’s the word — a test? There we were in a motel with our key, a plastic card that wasn’t working. We’ve had these plastic keycards before that you insert neatly into slots in door locks to get into motel rooms. The thing was this key didn’t seem to have a place to go. There were no slits, no slats to insert the keycard into the door lock thingy. Which didn’t stop us from repeatedly trying. So, there we stood, our rolling suitcases waiting patiently as we fumbled getting nowhere. Finally, another seasoned traveler appeared, recognized our plight (perhaps we hailed him with our looks of desperation) and quickly solved our dilemma by showing us the trick. The trick, in case you are ever in a similar predicament, is to flash the keycard at the door lock. Seconds later a green light appears and the door opens. Now, we are in the know for the next time. Although by the next time, no doubt there will be newer technology (say a keyless key?) and we will be clueless once again.
Years ago, on our last major trip abroad in the pre-COVID-19 era, we found ourselves in the huge airport of Manchester, England. We had neglected to have our boarding passes printed ahead of time and thus it was required that we print them out in the airport. However, we were told that if our airline processed our passes, it would cost us several hundred pounds or dollars. But, we could do it ourselves on an airport computer. Brilliantly, we found said computer in a lobby and read the tiny print instructions to get started. We read the directives word for word. As former teachers, we were skilled at word-for-word directions, had taught classrooms of children to locate key words and follow in step-by-step order. However, the more we read, the more we hit blanks or wrong portals and the more discouraged we became. Until, we saw the solution. It was obvious and it was standing right next to us: Teenagers! With due haste, we appealed to the teen group for help and with utter courtesy, even eagerness and competence, it was done. In less than five minutes our all-critical boarding passes were obtained. We exchanged grateful hugs and handshakes as our fellow travelers slouched off in triumph, waving a speedy goodbye as they headed to the gate to take off on their vacation in the sun.
In years past, we had confronted showers that required more than a turned faucet, or WC’s with unfamiliar gears or bidets in France that were “for what?” In a more recent trip, we were challenged by lights that l could not turn on. We needed guidance to understand that the room lights turned on by inserting our plastic room key in the appropriate slot. When one enters the room, one inserts the key and when one leaves the room, one removes it, thus shutting off all the lights and saving electricity. I wondered how I might install a similar system at home, where turning off lights efficiently wasn’t our normal routine. It was all enlightening and one of the reasons we liked to travel.
Now it’s different, as we get older and pace of change outwits us. When we are far away from home (say Maryland) and the hotel phone rings and we say “hello, hello” and there is nothing there, it’s annoying. When we don’t know whether to wave our hands at the recalcitrant toilet or look for a button (not a flusher) to push, it’s not enlightening. Or when we’re faced with the mystery of a parking garage ticket that we’re told strictly to keep and not lose, but there’s a barrier that won’t lift unless we do something with that parking ticket, but what? Not Enlightening! And here in Maryland we speak the language and don’t need a passport and yet we are challenged to simply retrieve or park our car. Not Enlightening.
So, here’s the critical question: Is there is a cutoff age for travel? Are we there yet? Are we ready to be grounded? Unless of course, and here’s an option, we convince one of our beloved teenage grandchildren to always travel with us.
Ruth Charney lives in Greenfield.