Monday, May 5 was a cool, cloudy day as 33 seniors gathered at the Fallbrook Senior Center to begin the center’s first five-day trip to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. Dozens of suitcases, ice chests, bags of ice, “goodie bags,” cases of soda and water decorated the lawn and drive as the Cowtown Charter bus pulled up and parked.

Several helpers scurried around loading the chests onto the bus and into the baggage compartment. Suitcases were counted, on and off, at each stop. At 8 a.m., we were ready to get started on our adventure. Our bus driver, Tony, from Fort Worth, TX, had driven...