The Travel Smiths

Stephen’s late dad was the king of holidays. Invariably if Stephen is telling us an anecdote about his dad is probably took place in their combi while parked beside a watering hole at the Kruger park. Or something similar. 

Stephen’s dad was a lawyer who should have worked in conservation. As such Stephen’s childhood was punctuated with frequent trips to game reserves and other majestic spots around Southern Africa. Graham Smith for me is synonymous with laughter, road trips, bird calls and high jinx. 

Stephen and his sister, Leigh have inherited the holiday gene. So much so that Leigh has worked in tourism for years and currently has her own business ‘Travel Smith’. I can’t help but know that her bush living dad must be extremely proud of her. 

These holidays we plan on taking our children to the Transkei with family. We’ve been planning the trip since last year. We like to have a holiday brewing constantly- it gives us something to look forward to. Long term Stephen and I are planning a tenth anniversary trip to Turkey. We have absolutely no idea if we will actually be able to pawn our children off into unsuspecting relatives or if it will ultimately remain a pipe dream but every so often we fall into googling Turkish markets and delight and we allow ourselves to get a little bit excited. 

And we do this because what is life if we do not make space for hope? We may as well be the tramps Vladimir and Estragon if we do not ensure that the gyres stop for a moment so that we can watch a sunset on the beach. And sometimes it is the anticipation of a break from the mundane that turns a dull moment into a hopeful one. 

One of the biggest tenants of the Christian faith is a capacity for hope. A belief that in all things we will find a glimmer of something that will pull us through a difficult period. I did not ever get to meet my father-in-law but through his son I received an inheritance of hope and optimism and holidays. When I find myself in a beautiful South African spot, often oddly accompanied by the hoot of an owl, I feel truly connected to both my family and to God, and I know that somewhere in that moment lies the spirit of Graham, and I smile.