The Accordion Trip

Story by Barbie Wong

​In December of 2017 I was talking to my friends Kiki and Phil, they are my brother-in-law's parents. They're just wonderful people. They were planning a trip to Rome for the whole month in the month of May. They're so kind. They said, "Barbie, we'll be there. If you want to come join us for any of that time just let us know. It's a small, studio apartment but there's a couch that can sleep just you."
​

I heard this and I thought, "Oh my gosh, that sounds so fun but I have kids that I home school so it's not possible. I'm stuck at home. There's no way I'd be able to do this. If I travel, I need to travel with my kids." I thought it was a pipe dream. 

It was about that time I was starting to play the accordion. I had started in October and I was getting the accordion newsletter from the San Francisco Accordion Club. And, lo and behold, in January I see a headline, "Accordion Trip to Italy." It was a week in Italy and I thought, "Oh my gosh, that looks amazing. That would be so much fun." It was in May. Again, I thought, "I have kids."

Then I looked further and thought, "That's the month of May. That's when Kiki and Phil will be in Italy. That's a coincidence. But, whatever." Then it just gnawed at me and I thought, "I just really want to go on this trip." Next, I thought, "Let's just look at the dates specifically. What's happening in our household during that time?" I looked on our calendar and I realized that Jeff, my husband, was taking the kids to Oregon for a long weekend. They were doing something that I told them I wasn't interested in doing. It was a track meet. Then, I thought, "If he's already taking them there during that time, I just need to find someone to take care of the kids for four days." 
​

​I have a sister who was not working at the time and is very generous. I ended up asking her to take care of the kids one day. My other sister took care of the kids another day. And, then, my father-in-law came and took care of the kids one day. It was just Jeff and the kids and everything just fell into place. I got to go to Italy, go on the accordion tour and stay with Kiki and Phil.

I had the best time. This town had more than 20 accordion manufacturers, an accordion museum, and art all over town celebrating accordion playing. Plus, I made so many wonderful friends. I'm so glad I listened to my gut and let the plan show itself to me.