Riding a bike through France

I'm Mii Holder. I want to share a little piece of my story that started with a dream and a deep passion for travel. Travel has always been my love and my calling, but life took me on a different path. I became a registered nurse and dedicated 30 years of my life to caring for others. During that time, I raised a beautiful son and traveled extensively with him and my husband. But someone special in my life never had the chance to see the world, my grandmother, Keko.

She's the heart of my story. Keko was born and raised in a small rural community in Arkansas. She was a simple lady full of strength and wisdom, her life was not easy. She was 14 years old when her mother died, giving birth to twin boys. She was no longer the sister, but the mother. She was a beacon of resilience that endured the passage of the century. She lived to be almost 100 years old. On Sunday afternoons, she would bring over black-eyed peas to be shelled, and we would all sit on our patio and reminisce. I listened to her tell a story about my grandfather and her moving to California during World War Two to help with the war effort. She was a Rosie the Riveter. I never heard any more stories of her leaving Arkansas again.

Unfortunately, she never had the opportunity to explore our big, beautiful, and diverse country. She would have never dreamed of traveling the world. Keko is the person who inspired me to travel with seniors. As we age, others may perceive us as less capable, old, boring, weak, and resistant to change, yet I recognize that we were once teachers, nurses, and military veterans. We were entrepreneurs and volunteers, mothers and fathers, and mentors and grandparents. I see wisdom and value. I see courage, strength, and sacrifice. I see selflessness, resilience, determination, inspiration, and compassion. I see you and my grandmother, Keko.

I opened my small travel company at the age of 60. It took a little courage and a leap of faith. I knew it was now or never. I wanted to create something meaningful and fun for seniors, but also a company that could give back to the community. My little business is growing leaps and bounds.