Postcards from Venice: Making Memories with My Mom
I’ve had the privilege of interviewing incredible people for content and media projects—from chart-topping musicians to world-changing tech and business leaders. While the conversations are extraordinary, I often get just as excited about figuring out what we can talk about: Where and how did they start? What shaped their journey? What are they still excited about, and what haven’t they accomplished yet?
A few years ago, I realized I’d asked these questions of hundreds of people, but never of my own parents. My mom always said her greatest joy was being a mom. She led a simple, content life in a small town, always putting my sister and me first. But when I asked her if there was anything she dreamed about and hadn’t done, she was quick to answer: “I’ve always wanted to ride a gondola in Venice.”
That was all I needed to start planning a trip for us. Despite my own travels to Europe, I’d never been to Paris, and Mom agreed she’d love to visit my dream destination, too. Six months later, I was there when she got her first passport stamp, and I saw her eyes fill with joyful tears when we stepped onto our water taxi at the airport in Venice. We sipped on huge spritz drinks, stumbled over the Rialto Bridge, and wandered the streets laughing. The following week, she was with me when I finally saw Monet’s Water Lilies and watched the Eiffel Tower sparkle. It was so special.
Time has a way of putting things into perspective. We think we have forever, but we don’t. We put things off until tomorrow, but tomorrow isn’t promised. We think we’ll always be healthy and able to see, go, and do… but what if we’re not? What matters most is spending time with the people we love and making our dreams come true. And that’s exactly what this trip was—a dream come true.
Without further ado, here are some of my favorite photos from Venice. Paris got its own post!
Planning a trip to Venice or Paris? I dove deep into research and crafted detailed itineraries for my mom and me, including curated recommendations pinned on two city-specific Google Maps. Drop me a note and I’ll happily share them with you!