On October 26th, my mom turned 80. My sister and I had been trying to plan a special birthday for her for months (it wasn’t easy). But the first thing we agreed on was that we wanted it to be an experience.
After many long-distance calls (my sister lives in Poland, I live in Canada), we decided on a family trip. Just us: two daughters and our parents. No husbands, no grandkids.
Then we had to agree on a location. Mom had the only vote that really mattered, and she chose Paris.
My parents were last in Paris more than 30 years ago. So much has changed, like the rebuilding of Notre-Dame and the Louvre pyramid, while so much has stayed the same: the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur, Moulin Rouge and the Seine.
We rented a small apartment and met up on a beautiful Thursday morning after our own versions of planes, trains and automobiles. We walked, saw the major sights, had lovely meals, took breaks and even a few naps. We had great conversations, lots of laughs and plenty of trips down memory lane. We rediscovered the city at our own pace.
What struck my parents was how easy the trip was for them (“the girls took care of everything”) and how they were able to put in 10,000-plus steps a day despite some of their limitations.
They also talked about how they had always tried to save for some event in the distant future and maximize what they would eventually leave us. But the real value was in spending time together now, while we are all healthy enough to enjoy it.
Paris was a beautiful backdrop, but it could have been anywhere.
So, as we said our goodbyes, we agreed to do it again next year, this time with spouses and grandkids.
Our trip made me think about many of our customers, including some very much like Lucy and Zibi, who are using the wealth they’ve built in their homes to make memories with their kids and grandkids.
Sometimes the value of what we’ve built isn’t just in what we leave behind. It’s in what it allows us to enjoy together today.
If there’s something you’ve been planning, maybe it’s time to start thinking about making it happen. Give us a call at 1-855-460-7236 to see how much money you could access with a CHIP Reverse Mortgage.
Sincerely,
Yvonne Ziomecki-Fisher
Chief Customer, Brand & Advice Officer
HomeEquity Bank