Travel Sketches

Canadian Psychiatry Aujourd'hui
June 2008

As summer gets underway and thoughts turn to holidays, Aujourd'hui thought it was the perfect time to ask some of the Canadian Psychiatric Association's faithful volunteers to look back and describe the most memorable place they have ever visited. Interestingly, it seems it is the people you spend your time with that make a place most memorable.

Enjoy your summer and the people with whom you will share it!

Dr. Mamta Gautam, Section on Physician Health and Well Being, Chair:

One of the most memorable trips I have taken is one I took a few years ago with my mother. I was asked to give a presentation on an Eastern Caribbean cruise, and invited her to come along. It was just the two of us, as adults, traveling together for fun. She had never been on a cruise before, and was eager and thrilled to see the ship (complete with indoor skating rink!), the abundant meals and fabulous service, the magnificent nightly shows, and the tours of the islands.

I recall many happy times - dressing up for dinner, sitting on our balcony with a drink watching the sun set as we left port, her smile of delight as she came out of the water at Magens Bay, her joy as colleagues came to tell her positive things about me and my work, and just talking late into the night. During the trip we celebrated Valentine's Day - my first one since my husband left. I had never felt so loved as I did that day with my mother.

I would highly recommend going on a trip with a parent, one-on-one, as adults!