By Nick Bredimus
Singer/songwriter Dan Fogelberg famously wrote about his father’s influence on his music. My own father, Robert Bredimus, was the original world traveler and inspired me in my travel career and my love for exotic destinations. When I was very young, Dad told stories about sailing to France on an Ocean Liner. His exciting life in Paris shown very brightly in comparison to dull New Jersey where I grew up. I was captivated by his description of the Parisian cafes and bistros. Scenes from the film “Midnight in Paris” come to mind when I recall my boyhood brain being imprinted by “The Leader”.
I remember, as a young adult, being told about the travel benefits enjoyed by airline employees. It was probably my father or one of his friends who salivated over free travel for the employees’ parents. Back then was the Golden Age of aviation with flyers being mostly VIPs. It was also explained to me that airline companies needed computer skills in their hiring. Because I was just finishing courses in computer programming, that information pushed me to apply for airline jobs as soon as I was able. Computers and Airlines! That sealed the deal for me, and I quickly landed (no pun intended) a computer job at TWA (Trans World Airlines).
Dad was very excited by the thought of traveling internationally at little or no cost. TWA was an around-the-world carrier at that time, as was Pan Am (Pan American World Airways). He had his choice of the very best available travel options. My father had recently retired after 40 plus years as a Research Engineer and had plenty of time and no worries. I researched his options: he could fly for free on standby or pay 10% of the fare for a reserved seat. When I informed him the 90% discount also applied to First Class, he couldn’t contain his enthusiasm. Within days, he made his plans, and I booked him on Pan Am to the Cayman Islands.
Employees and their families had a dress code to follow, and First Class required a suit and tie for men. Dad had no qualms about that since he wore a necktie every day but Sunday. My father was a very skilled and a one-time professional photographer. So, his camera was strapped around his neck and he was off.
The Caribbean was an easy choice for him because we were living in the New York area in those days. After the success with his first flight to the tropics, I thought I would try it myself. My ticket from JFK airport to Nassau, Bahamas cost $5.40 (just the Tax, Ma’am).
It was not long before he set his sights on traveling around-the-world. Pan Am took him to Paris (where he had lived briefly at age 21), and around Europe before he was enjoying Asia. Hawaii was his stopover as he returned to the States. The Aloha spirit bit him and he returned on future trips. Dad said his favorite breakfast was Papaya with a squeeze of lime, but it was only available while in Hawaii. The “Leader” inspired me to add Hawaii to my own list and I went as soon as I could manage a long weekend. My “weekend” breaks were nothing like my father’s leisurely travel. Later, I ambitiously flew around the world just to say I did. I also did it a second time in the opposite direction.
These memories are very old now, a lifetime actually. A lifetime which was all the richer because my Dad had shown me the way.