Page 68 - September Sun Rays
P. 68
Travel
Lessons
“What has travel taught
me? Many things. That
God created a beautiful
world filled with a wealth
of landscapes, animals,
birds, fish and people to
appreciate.”
“Around the World in the Middle Seat:
How I Saw the World (and Survived!) as
a Group Tour Leader” by Joyce Brooks
By Mike Gullickson PHOTO BY PHOTO PHIL
Because her husband Keith prefers At the age of 40, globetrotter Joyce Brooks had never even left the country. But,
the window seat while traveling, in the years since, she has traveled to over 100 countries and all seven continents.
Joyce Brooks usually winds up
in the middle seat. Her seat neighbor the age of 16 when she won an all- locations for themselves.
might be an uncomfortably large man or expenses paid trip to New York City and
a fidgety lady constantly digging through Washington, D.C. However, more than By the age of 65, Joyce had led over
her bag while turning the overhead light 20 years would pass before this writer 200 group tours around the world. She
off and on. Sometimes she’ll find herself and mother of two would be able to begin decided to sit down and compose her
sitting beside a mother with a screaming pursuing her dream. travel memoirs, appropriately titled,
9-month old, or in front of a little old man “Around the World in the Middle Seat.”
with a bladder problem who catches hold In her mid 40s and itching for change, With personality and humor, Joyce’s
of her hair each time he leaves his seat. Joyce left her job as an auction manager memoirs recount the glitches, diversions
Yet, in the thousands of miles spanned and fundraiser for PBS and leapt and incidents that flavored the couple’s
by the Brooks’ 30 years of travel, her headfirst into the travel industry. trips. She offers travel advice as well,
unpredictable flight companions (and Working diligently and pursing encouraging all travelers to experience
there have been many) have been the opportunities when they arose, Joyce as much of their chosen destinations as
only unpleasant part of any of their found herself arranging and leading they can.
numerous adventures. bus trips to various destinations.
Her carefully planned excursions Not satisfied with the adventures of her
A voyager of the first order, Joyce has and attention to detail garnered her past, in January of 2003 Joyce set out to
been able to maintain a sense of humor a following so loyal that when Joyce fulfill her ultimate childhood dream: to
throughout her expeditions. How does went into business for herself, her visit all seven of the Earth’s continents.
she do it? Gratitude, it would seem, is group travelers followed. When some
the secret to her good nature, for Joyce destinations went a little too far afield for The adventure began in Austin, only
- who has traveled to every continent on her clientele to follow, Joyce and Keith to be nearly thwarted in Dallas when
the globe - spent much of her life feeling as used the perks of the trade to see these a security alert shut down the entire
though world travel was beyond her grasp. airport! Jumping from location to
location, Joyce and Keith made their
Raised on a ranch and farm in Central
Texas, Joyce caught the travel bug at ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG
66 | SUNRAYS SEPTEMBER 2015
