The travel suggestion

I got a letter the other day from one of my brothers (have 5, all older). He suggested I take my mom to Croatia. Yep, a pretty strange request, but let me explain some things:
- I love to travel internationally and have been fortunate enough to be able ($ and time) to take myself on a birthday vacation (November) each year for the past 5.
- My mom is second-generation Croatian and would very much like to see the place where both her parents were born.
- My mom is 77 but still very mobile and in good health. She just came back from a visit to the East Coast to visit my sister, so flying is not a problem.

So, what's the big deal? Well, the letter came from a brother who lives with my mom (because he's been unemployed for a few years). Needless to say, he doesn't have the $$ to take my mom anywhere.
BUT!
I am NOT the only family member with a decent-paying job and no spouse or kids to complicate matters. There are 9 (NINE) children in our family and I am the youngest.
I am NOT the only family member who enjoys international travel.
I already spend considerable $$$ buying gifts for my family during said vacations.
And I already drive 40 minutes each way to take my mom out to breakfast each Saturday morning.

But, of course, the Catholic guilt is starting to seep in (as I use my brother's letter as a coaster on my coffee table.)

Here's the plan...I already did some reconnaisance during breakfast this morning and found out that my mom has been to Croatia once, but not the island where her parents were born. I think if I can find a tour group that goes to Croatia (and allows for free time to go island-hopping), I might be able to convince my siblings to chip in and buy my mom the trip for Christmas!

Why don't I join her???

Well, I like to walk around a lot on my vacations. I think it's the best way to see a new place and meet its people. At 77, my mom likes to walk, but not so much. Also, her generation would not DREAM of going out alone at night (and going with me would be considered alone because we don't have a man with us. Crazy, but true!)

I really think a tour group of older adults might be the best way.

By the way, while talking about travel, my mother told me that during the last tour of Croatia, a widowed man in their group (my mom is a widow) asked her if she would "have dinner with a poor man." My mom said, "I don't date poor men." Fabulous! I would've loved to have known my mom as a young single girl!