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- For 24 years, Grandma Noreen took each of her 16 grandchildren on a one-on-one trip when she finished her eighth grade.
- This year, eight grandchildren took their grandmother on a surprising trip to Hawaii.
Traveling with your loved ones can make some of your most precious memories. And Britney Lindgren’s family knows this firsthand. Over the past 24 years, Lindgren’s grandmother has taken all 16 grandchildren on a dedicated one-on-one trip. This year, they returned favors on a surprise trip to Grandma Noreen’s own dream destination.
Since 2000, Grandma Noreen has been planning a trip for each grandchild when she finishes her 8th grade. Along the way, they made lifelong memories from getting lost in Florida and trying to swim with dolphins in California. At the age of 87, Grandma Noreen often calls herself a blessing.
Last July was overturned this July when eight of her 16 grandchildren took her on a trip to Hawaii, the place she always wanted to visit.
In the current Viralticutok posted last week by Lindglen, the family is on a flight to Oahu when flight attendants board a flight to Oahu with unexpected announcements from a group of very grateful grandchildren to a “true VIP” – grandmother’s intercom.
The grandson secretly planned this public declaration as a way to express their gratitude. Her goal is to make her feel special from the moment the trip begins. “She has a million stories. She loves to share them and is so lovely,” Lindgren told USA Today. “We were like, well, we were all sitting together. She might not be able to share her story with people, so let’s make sure her story is being told.”
In Tiktok, flight attendants read scripts written by Lindgren. “We don’t know how she did it yet, but somehow she made every trip unforgettable and never met any strangers along the way.
“Grandma Noreen, thank you for your love, courage and your endless curiosity. Thank you to our biggest fans, our favorite travel companions, and the Queen who makes memories,” the crew continued, as her grandmother wiped tears from her eyes.
Long-standing family traditions
The tradition began in 2000 with his eldest son, Lindgren, at the age of 14. Lindgren’s grandfather passed away suddenly in 1996, and Grandma Noreen wondered what to do during her retirement – the idea of a grandmother-granddaughter trip struck.
The two went to New York City where they waved the signs of the crowd for “Today’s Show” and watched the Riverdance performance as Lindgren was a dancer who grew up.
Since then, Grandma Noreen has traveled repeatedly with her 16 grandchildren. (They suggest several destination options, but the final choice is grandma approval.)
With one of them in towing, she visited the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Florida. NASCAR Race Shop in North Carolina. Boston Basketball Hall of Fame. She also went on a trip to Amtrak to Washington, DC with another grandson. This is a journey that my granddaughter hopes to recreate with her children.
Last year, Grandma Noreen went on her last trip with her youngest grandson, so it’s time for her own travel dream to come true.
The story continues below.
For years, my grandchildren discussed all cousin trips as a kind of reunion, but wanted to include my grandmother. They always asked her where she wanted to go and she replied Hawaii. It was where her husband was stationed during the Korean War, and the couple never did together.
“In my head, I was like my grandma that she wanted her to do something and not try to make it happen for her,” one of her grandchildren, Katie Shipnievsky, told USA Today. “So I just shared the idea with my parents and some of my cousins and we started seeing how we could make it work.”
This past Christmas, the family surprised her on a trip to Hawaii by placing leis and flower necklaces around her neck. All 16 grandchildren tried to travel, but only eight of them were able to go. No significant others were invited – it was just family time.
Quality time in Hawaii
Lindglen’s family immediately smiles from visiting Pearl Harbor to playing with the waves of the North Shore to get hooked on Doll Whip, the famous pineapple-flavored soft serve from Doll Food Company.
My eight grandchildren had previously been to Hawaii, so I wrote a tour of their entire island to take my grandmother on board. The moment I stood out in my family was touring the Scofield Barracks, where my grandfather was stationed in the 50s. It was a must-see for Grandma Noreen.
“We all live busy lives and everything in our 20s and 30s, so it was fun being able to slow down,” Lindgren said. “I don’t even know at the end that I’ve spent six consecutive days like my cousin.”
On this trip, Lindgren and her family had no outside distractions or obligations. “Even so (at the family reunion), our partners, our children, our parents, we are all in one home together, so it’s not that high quality time, just certain people,” she added.
In just over a week, Lindgren’s Tiktok received over 4.5 million views. “The way people listened to me and they wanted to take my grandma’s legacy and share it with their family, or share the story of their own family experiences, was pretty cool,” Lindgren said. “It’s pretty cool to see the impact she has on us. She’s got to so many other people now.”
