Never too old to live your dream

The ladies of Prairie Hill Church of Christ hosted Ellie Hamby, a documentary photographer, and Sandy Hazelip, an osteopathic physician, the Traveling Grannies who circumnavigated the globe.

Hamby and Hazelip spoke during Prairie Hill’s 11th annual Ladies Day, Sept. 21.  The theme of the Ladies’ Day planned by the ladies at Prairie Hill, was “Jesus is a Big Deal. He thinks You’re a Big Dill.” They decorated with pickles and following the program served lunch which included sub sandwiches, a pickle bar, pickle pasta, and pickle-decorated cookies.

Ladies attended from churches spanning Ryan and Waurika to Oklahoma City. Each guest was gifted with a crocheted pickle, emphasizing each person present is a Big Dill to Jesus. Featured speakers Hamby and Hazelip were also a Big Dill, sharing a story of their personal adventures.

Inspired by the book, “Around the World in 80 Days,” they planned a trip even better than the one Phileas Fogg took.

“This was not a vacation, it was an adventure,” Hazelip said.

The ladies departed from DFW Jan. 11, 2023, to go to Antarctica as their first stop, and from there traveled to all seven continents to see the many wonders in the world. They traveled on their own, no guided groups, and they booked their own accommodations for each stop. Hazelip and Hamby explained they kept to a budget, immersing themselves in the local culture as much as possible as tourists.

Their average hotel cost for the whole trip was $29 per night. At 81, they understand what’s truly important and the real value of “experience” over “comfort.” They enjoyed mingling with locals, and traveling independently, learned things do not always go as planned. They share the philosophy with an old Arab proverb: “Trust in God, but tie your camel.” Even though they could not speak the language in each country, smiles are universal.

Hamby and Hazelip’s future plans are to return to each continent and explore it more in depth. They wanted to visit Machu Picchu in Peru on the Around the World trip, but it was closed due to civil unrest. In March of this year, the ladies spent 30 days in South America, exploring Machu Picchu, boating down the Amazon, and fishing for piranha, among other activities. Their next adventure is to spend time in Australia. Their mantra is: “81 and still on the run.”

 “Our next one will be “85, and still alive,” Hazelip said.

Although Hamby and Hazelip both lost the loves of their lives, they shared that when God closes a door, He opens a window. They have become best friends and cannot imagine sharing these adventures with anyone else.

Hamby and Hazelip said a common understanding they hope others can see through their travels is, “We’ve come to find that people are the same all over the world.”  

Hamby and Hazelip documented their Around the World in 80 Days trip on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. The ladies shared with the group at Prairie Hill that Penguin Random House publishers contacted them asking to publish a book based on their adventures. That was to be published this spring, but due to the election, it will be coming out next fall. They have also learned that two well-known actresses have asked to film a movie of their trip.

“I told them that no bad word is to come out of my mouth,” Hazelip said.