page 1 - Mature Living in the Southeast

out of respect for what’s happened.’We didn’t think we’denjoy it.”The group has grown innumbers in the last few years,and has begun repeating trips.Tatum refers to many of hercurrent travel companions asthe “second generation” ofTattnall Travelers. Still, oneoriginal female member, inher 80s, continues to go withthe group. Tatum also addswith pride that one new member,who with his wife attendedthe most recent excursionto the American West,represented the third generationof his family that hadtraveled with her.When Lyndal quotes aprice to the group, it includesalmost all food, lodging, andtickets.“They love that ‘cause allthey have to do is get in andgo,” she explained.While the Travelers groupenjoys doing its sightseeingin North America, Tatum hasteamed up with the Mulvihillson excursions all over theworld.“Kevin does trips, pickinga place overseas, and I gotstarted going on those myself,”Lyndal recalled. “I offeredthem to anybody whowanted to go, but our groupdoesn’t want to go out of thecountry much.”Following in the footstepsof Mr. Sanders, Tatum hastraveled to many Europeansites, including Finland andIceland. She recalled re-enactinga famous handshakebetween President RonaldReagan and Soviet PremierMikhail Gorbachev at theHofdi House near Reykjavik,Iceland, where the men hadnegotiated during the lastyears of the Cold War.“I love less-frequentedplaces a lot, and I love history,”she stated.Tatum has also visitedNew Zealand and Australia,China and Japan, Switzerland,France, Spain, Italy, andthe Greek Isles.“I was looking at a pictureof myself the other day at thegreat stadium at Ephesuswhere the Apostle PaulMEMBERS OF THE TATTNALL TRAVELERS POSE BEFORE THE GARDEN OF THEGODS GEOLOGIC SITE NEAR COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, ON THEIR MOSTRECENT TRIP.preached,” she commented.“It’s still standing there.”She particularly lovedseeing Istanbul in Turkey, andenjoyed a trip to Germanyrecently where she witnesseda Passion Play which is onlyperformed once every decadein the Bavarian Alps.“All my life I had been ona farm in Georgia, hadn’t seenanything,” she stated. “Butthat didn’t mean I couldn’t doit. I had no earthly idea itwould ever come to anythinglike what I’ve been able to doand see.”When asked what traveldoes for an individual, shereplied, “It just broadens yourwhole world. You stay in oneplace so long, you don’t knowanything else except thatpeople everywhere live likeyou do. To me, it’s understandinghumanity a lot better.You see what they haveto work with, whatthey need, and howthey get it from theirland and area. Now,that may be totally differentfrom us. You’renot so narrow-mindedin what you think.”“The pleasure I getis from going and seeingall that thesepeople have created,these buildings andthings,” she continued.“We think we havepretty things here—and we do—but thenyou go to Rome orsomewhere and say‘Holy cow! Look whatthey created!’ You juststand there and look inamazement at objectslike the huge statue ofDavid. You can see hisveins and muscles; it’sso real. It’s a wonderful thingto get out of your element andgo somewhere else. I loveseeing what the rest of theworld looks like.”“I have also been verytouched when I’ve stood onthe Arizona Memorial inPearl Harbor in Hawaii or atOmaha Beach at Normandyin France, thinking of thosewho gave their lives for ourfreedom.”Interestingly enough,Lyndal’s husband Kennondoes not share her love oftraveling. He has been onMature Living Winter Edition 51