From JuJu with Love

You know how some people say they bring sunshine wherever they go?

Yeah… I’m starting to think I bring something else.

Not while I’m there, of course. That would be too obvious.
No, no—everything is perfectly fine when I visit.

It’s what happens after I leave that’s starting to concern me.

It began innocently enough.

2016 — Queenstown, New Zealand
We left this breathtaking, peaceful paradise…
and a day later, an earthquake hit.
I remember thinking, “Well… that’s unfortunate timing.”

Then things escalated.

2020 — Antarctica
I returned home from the trip of a lifetime…
and two weeks later, the entire world shut down.

I mean… I’m not saying it was me…
but the timing is… suspicious.

2022 — Reykjavík, Iceland
We left…
and then came the volcanic eruption.

Because apparently earthquakes weren’t enough for my travel résumé.

2022 — Peru
Machu Picchu was magical. Bucket-list, unforgettable.
We got home…
and then political unrest shut everything down.

At this point, I started to get a little nervous.

2023 — Nairobi, Kenya
Another incredible experience.
And almost exactly one year later?
Protests in the streets.

I mean… what?!?

2024 — Havana, Cuba
Music, color, history… such an amazing trip.
And then—just days after we left—Russian ships arrived in the harbor.

At this point, I feel like I should come with a disclaimer:

“Hi, I’ll be visiting your country next week…
you may want to… keep an eye on things after I leave.” 😳

And now…

2026 — Japan (Pending 😳)

I’m literally packing for my trip.
Suitcase open. Mahjong set ready. Michigan flag accounted for.

And this morning?

A 7.5 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Japan.
Tsunami warnings in effect.

I mean…

At what point do we stop calling this a coincidence???

Maybe I should start warning my travel friends:

You are perfectly safe if you travel with me…
it’s only if you go after me that things get a little… unpredictable.

Or maybe I should start a new business:

Juju’s Travel Advisory Services
“Everything will be fine while I’m there…
after that, you’re on your own.”

All joking aside, I know these are serious events that impact real people and communities.

But maybe what this really reminds me is how quickly things can change—
and how lucky I am to have experienced these places when I did.

Still…

If I book a trip to your city,
you might want to stock up on emergency supplies.

Just saying. 😉

From Juju with love 💙