One of the best benefits of traveling as a non-rev is visiting friends and family. Having lived in several places around the US including the midwest, I have a variety of people in my life that do not happen to live near me. It has been a blessing to visit some of these people more often. A number of airline employees have family abroad. The travel benefits help them to stay in touch with their loved ones and visit.

Many of my recent travels have been people focused. I saw my college roommate in Chicago this winter. (Read about it in my blog post about quick trips) In addition to that trip, I visited my parents in Wisconsin and my husband’s extended family in Michigan. I also have plans to attend a wedding in the near future in Houston. I also plan to go home again this summer to see family, hometown friends, and extended family.

Wisconsin

A couple months ago, I was lucky enough to have a clear weekend to take a trip back to the midwest. Right after work, I drove to the airport to board an evening flight to Milwaukee. The airport parking lot was filling up, and parking was stressful. I was grateful that I had recorded the spot I had parked in for when I returned. I took an Uber to my brother’s place and went straight to bed, I had been awake for 19 hours at that point.

Simple Pleasures

My mom picked me up the following morning, and we drove to my hometown. We made a stop at Costco, which is always pretty fun. After Costco, we got pedicures. Finally, we arrived in Sheboygan where I stocked up on my favorite chapstick from Olivu. We also stopped to pick up some Italian bread at another local shop, Slo Food Market for dinner. One of my favorite things about the midwest is the small locally-owned shops.

In the afternoon, my mom took me to see their construction site. My parents are currently building a house overlooking Lake Michigan. It is a picturesque property that used to be a rundown barn and farmhouse. They have done considerable DIY work on the farmhouse to make it into my dad’s new workshop. The house will have an expansive window facing the lake. My dad met us at the property and showed me the future house. I got to see the electrical panel and gave my stamp of approval for their electrician’s work. We leaned a ladder to the second floor and scrambled to the top to see the space. It was exciting to see the house in construction. After, my mom cooked a tasty meal. She served her homemade olive tapenade, pizzaiola, and soup. It was delicious!

Art in Bloom

The next morning, I decluttered my old things for my parents’ move. After a low-key morning, my parents and I drove to Milwaukee to see Art in Bloom at the Milwaukee Art Museum. It was a really unique show. The Art Museum is in its own right, an artistic work. The building is a staple in Milwaukee. The art show was also impressive. We walked into the museum to the smells of fresh blooms and large floral arrangements in the atrium. A pianist was playing in the atrium as well for the event. From there, we proceeded to the show.

The flower show included fifteen to twenty art pieces selected for the flower show. The concept was pretty unique. Each floral artist was assigned a painting for inspiration in their floral arrangements. Each floral arrangement was framed by its corresponding art piece. Some paintings lend themselves better to the floral medium than others. I really enjoyed viewing both the artwork and the florals.

Following the art show, we met with my brother and dined at our favorite Mexican restaurant in Milwaukee, Botanas. After a fabulous meal, I parted ways with my parents and prepared for my flight home. In the morning, I was lucky enough to get an exit row seat on the airplane. I also randomly met an electrical design student in the airport who had debated an electrical apprenticeship. We had an enjoyable conversation about our mutual interests. It is always nice to have a positive experience with a stranger! Having such flexibility in travel makes it a bit easier to go home to the midwest, and it was great to visit and see the progress of my parents’ new home.

Michigan

Bryan and I ventured back to the midwest for his grandma’s 90th birthday. We scored exit-row seats on the first flight. On the second flight, we were separated, with Bryan in a middle economy seat and myself in the back of the plane in front of a remarkably inconsiderate couple. Non-revenue travel is not always glamorous! In O’Hare, we enjoyed a Rick Bayless restaurant. When we finally arrived in Michigan, we met with Bryan’s family for dinner and conversation. It was a fantastic opportunity for me to get to know his extended family better.

We hit the jackpot with the weather. It was a comfortable 70 degrees. Back home, it rained all weekend. Bryan and I took advantage, perusing a farmers market downtown to acquire some flowers for his grandma. We explored the adorable, midwest small town before meeting with Bryan’s aunt and uncle. The four of us proceeded to the beach state park. It was a beautiful day. We witnessed the most impressive kites I had ever seen being flown in the wind blowing off the lake. We enjoyed watching the boats float out of the harbor past the quaint, red lighthouse.

In the afternoon, we joined the rest of the extended family in the park for food and games. Bryan’s uncle kindly gave us a quick crash course in the rules of Pickleball, and we spent a few hours learning the rules of the game. I had a great time on the court! I would love to play again someday.

Birthday Celebrations

For the 90th birthday party, we assembled at Bryan’s aunt and uncle’s tiny home village. The village has a myriad of activities to enjoy. We had a great time on the ropes course. We also took a pontoon ride and played some yard games. My favorite part was probably playing more Pickleball. We enjoyed a cookout on the porch and some heartfelt messages to Bryan’s grandma for her birthday. We finished up the day by enjoying some ice cream. Bryan and I were so glad to have the opportunity to celebrate with extended family. Standby travel has made the world substantially smaller for us and allows us to visit the midwest more often. This perk is invaluable to us. It was enjoyable to spend time this spring with family and friends through our travels, and I am looking forward to more visits this summer!

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