Thanks, Mom

Jack Phoebus is a 13-year-old student at Takoma Park Middle School in Silver Spring, MD, and he's one lucky kid. His mom took him to Greece last summer on Smithsonian Journeys' Voyage to the Lands of Gods and Heroes family adventure. Like most kids, it's taken him a while to get around to writing her a thank-you note, which has come just in time for Mothers' Day.

Dear Mom,

Just wanted to thank you for taking me to Greece last summer. I know it's late but I just wanted to finally thank you. When you first invited me to go, I thought it might be fun, but a little boring, I was sure wrong.

I really liked the cruise, I loved my cabin with the great view of the water, I loved taking photos with your camera, and seeing the Acropolis for the first time was really neat. Jumping off the boat following our shore excursions, visiting the really old house with the chapel on Naxos, eating crêpes in several places, and I really loved the fruit smoothies at happy hour aboard our great ship. I liked the ship a lot. Preparing for the reanactment of the play, The Birds, was fun too because we got to surprise you with the performance. I still have part of my costume. I also liked reenacting the charge of the army at the Lion Gate at the fortress, or former fortress because it was really worn down, at Mycenae where King Agamemnon lived. I’m glad I didn’t live in that time, I might not have survived very well! And another thing I liked was the donkey ride up the cliff at Santorini, it was steep and smelly but I thought it was fun. I think Santorini was my favorite, and maybe yours too. That’s where I found that wooden puzzle that I love so much.

I know you wanted me to learn a lot and I did.

I know you love to travel to see new things and to meet new people. I'm really happy that you shared this trip with me. You were more relaxed and fun than during the school year, I guess I was less work for you because I was enjoying myself. I hope you'll take me on another adventure like Greece. Next time, let's invite Dad, he works too hard. Happy mothers day.

Love,

Jack

 

Our moms mean the world to us - they've taught us most of what we know, from how to put on our socks to how to get our own kids' grass stains out of them. But that's not all. Our moms are accomplished scientists, teachers, executives, and artists -they work hard and deserve a break.

So, take your mom someplace nice. On our US tours, you can stay closer to home and enjoy special entree, great seats, and behind-the-scenes action. So what are you waiting for? For the best Mothers' Day present ever, call or click today:

On the Cutting Edge: Glass Art in Seattle - Mom will never forget the exclusive tour of the Chihuly Ballard Studio and our glass-making demo.

Stratford Theatre Festival - Some of the most accomplished Shakespearean actors in the world congregate in Canada each summer.

Spoleto Festival USA - Dazzle mom's senses with flamenco, opera, puppetry and violinist Sarah Chang at this year's Spoleto Festival USA.

Frank Lloyd Wright and Fallingwater - Mom always tried to give you structure and now you can give some back. Take her on an in-depth tour of Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob. Click here for study leader David G. Wilkins' reflections on Wright's work.

If you're more in the mood for armchair travel today, click here to read about Journeys' own Sadie McVicker and her mom in France.