Growing up, my favorite game show was Let’s Make a Deal. There was no skill involved; contestants would dress up in idiotic outfits and risk a known prize for an unknown one. For instance, they could choose the His and Her Laz-Z-Boy recliner set or trade them in for the mystery item behind a closed curtain. I used to get annoyed at people who played it safe, thinking that recliners in the hand were not worth risking for whatever lay behind the curtain. If I’d been a contestant, I wouldn’t hesitate to take my chances on the unknown.

Sometimes the mystery showcase would be a dud. Instead of a brand new convertible and a trip to California, the curtain would open on a scraggily goat or a year’s worth of chewing gum. Still, this did not alter my way of thinking. A refusal to trade was like slamming the door on possibility. Even though it might end badly, Let’s Make a Deal was about taking that triumphant leap of faith.

I still feel this way, which explains my desire to go places we’ve never been for the holidays. Last year it was Austin, and this year, it’s New Orleans. The best leaps of faith are collective, and I’m grateful that my family shares (or at least indulges) my love of the mystery behind the curtain.