I think my son got a bit riled about my philosophizing so I'm taking a back road today. I originally intended to tell about my trip to Virginia and back in chronological order, but I'm not that organized and so I have decided to write it more in reference to interesting places I've been and the people I met.
Right now I am staying in Seattle helping my daughter with her children. I haven't been with young children for a while and it has been an experience. Sometimes I really feel house bound because I have to meet their bus at three thirty daily and that doesn't leave me a lot of travel time. I get Thursdays off and so last Wednesday I contacted my friends B and B in Renton and asked to accompany them on a short trip they were taking. They thought it a great idea and told me they were leaving early and would pick me up at nine thirty. Thank heaven their early co-insides with my early.
We left Auburn and headed south, which confused me entirely because they said we were going to travel along the Hood Canal which is part of the Puget Sound. I had the idea that the Sound went from Seattle north to Canada. Shows how lacking I am in geography. We went on freeway and larger highways until we could join with 101 which is the Pacific Coast road. It is a beautiful drive following the edge of the canal, which really isn't a canal but an inlet of the Pacific Ocean. It is very calm waters because it stretches approximately 100 miles inland. I do imagine when there is very rough water in the Pacific that the Canal can also become turbulent. There is ocean on one side of the highway and high banks of dirt cliffs on the other dominated by huge trees, the ever present moss and vegetation. This road can easily become blocked by landslides similar to California but it is sparsely populated and therefore not a national event.
B is a ham radio operator and was going to Lillywup to help a fellow operator that was having trouble with his operation. Lillywup is a very small town and the name is Indian meaning inlet. B's friend lives on land that his ancestors settled in the westward migration. His immediate family and most of his cousins still live in this area. I don't know why, but I was expecting to see housing like one sees in the very small towns in Montana, Utah and New Mexico. Most are very small and rustic. Many of the homes along the highway fit the description, but when we got to H's place, it was a very nicely kept modern modular home.
H is a very interesting person. He is paraplegic and like my husband, very independent. His home is better kept than mine. We had picked up Subway sandwiches and so we all visited over a lunch of subs, cookies and pop. It took me back to times when B, B and I were teenagers. B and I had a very good time visiting. When B and H got the radio problem worked out, H showed us several pictures he had of his place. One of the pictures was from an areal geological survey the government had done. It showed his road and land. There is a stream that runs through the property and it has formed an amazing alluvial fan in the canal. It is shallow for a distance and quite built up with silt and then seems to drop straight off into the deep water of the canal. H said that half of the fan is public beach and half belongs to his family. Oysters grow in the shallows of the fan and are harvested by people who know of them and seafood companies that his family contracts with. I didn't realize oysters grew in the northwest. I thought they were found only in the middle east coast bays or around the shoals of the Bay of Mexico. His family also has a small pond that every spring they stock with fish from a nearby hatchery and sponsor a fishing contest for local children ages twelve and below.
H is also a hunter and showed us several pictures of game and predators he had shot. On his wall is a set of the largest antlers I have ever seen and coming from central Utah, I have seen a few. They were elk antlers and said the animal dressed out at five hundred pounds hanging meat. That animal probably weighed between seven and eight hundred pounds. He has an apple orchard and some of the trees are original, planted in pioneer times. He had a bad time with bears climbing the trees for the apples and breaking them down. He showed us some pictures of a bears he had shot out of his tree. He gives the bears to the local Indian tribe which they use for the pelt, claws meat. He also has a picture of a wild cat he shot when it attacked his neighbor's cat. The wild cat was just about to deliver a killing bite when he shot it. The neighbor's cat jumped up and ran off. Harold must be quite a shot.
On our way back home we stopped at a small cafe and B had an oyster sandwich. B and I chickened out and got some really good ice cream cones.
It was a fun and interesting day. I hope to go down that way again. I mentioned the fishing tournament to my daughter and she would like to take her girls.
Me
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Another Side Road
I went with friends to see a movie tonight. I have no idea what critics had to say about it, but I say some people in Hollywood are finally getting somethings right. This is the type of movie critics love to hate. It is a schmaltzy story about a family with two dying children and the crusade the father mounts to save them. It delivers a great commentary on orphan drugs. The drugs that are very expensive to make and do not have a large market (perhaps 10,000 world wide).
Perhaps I found this film interesting and relevant because I worked in the medical field for thirty plus years. During that time I was able to follow the development of equipment and medications that could only be found in science fiction. Just think, the eradication of polio, measles, small pox, hemeolytic disease of the newborn, the ability to produce clean drugs with bacteria in just the last forty years. I found the behind the scenes bickering of cost effectiveness versus life saving treatment fascinating because I have been exposed to both sides. Perhaps I enjoyed this film because I had a household with two electric wheel chairs. My husband was a paraplegic with two rotator cuff injuries and my eldest son had Duchesne muscular dystrophy. The movie didn't dwell on the havoc electric chairs driven by two active people can cause in houses and cars, but it did hit the nail on the head with the emotional havoc a debilitating or deadly disease can cause in a family. My son, like the father in the film, would search the Internet constantly looking for inroads in research. He was thrilled when the gene governing Duchesne was found and was frustrated when research stalled at a genetic fix or even a possibility of stopping the progression of the disease. He was very blessed in that he could get around independently in his wheel chair. Occasionally we would get a call that his batteries had died at the mall or the theater and to come get him. He was a great movie buff and his ambition was to direct movies. He would have been good, but his life ended at age twenty six due to complications of pneumonia. It was only the second time he was treated in a hospital. At the time of his death, he was considered and old man in terms of surviving dystrophy. The average life span was fifteen years.
Sure there was artistic license taken when the expected life spans were exaggerated but no matter how long or short a time one has a child, the loss is still devastating. Different people succumb to diseases in different time periods and different ways. Stephen Hawking is the premier example of longevity with any form of dystrophy. Think of the number of Hawkings that we have probably lost to these insidious diseases. Thank heaven that I am not a movie critic and do not have to dwell on the acting, writing, directing or casting of a movie. I just have to dwell on the message it is delivering, and this one has a great message.
The movie is Extraordinary Measures. If you have read the critics and are reluctant to spend money to see it in a theater, be sure and rent it when it is released as a video. By the way, I read the critics after I wrote my blog and applied my standard fare. If they like the movie, I generally do not see it. If they do not like the movie, I can't get to a theater fast enough to view it.
Me
Perhaps I found this film interesting and relevant because I worked in the medical field for thirty plus years. During that time I was able to follow the development of equipment and medications that could only be found in science fiction. Just think, the eradication of polio, measles, small pox, hemeolytic disease of the newborn, the ability to produce clean drugs with bacteria in just the last forty years. I found the behind the scenes bickering of cost effectiveness versus life saving treatment fascinating because I have been exposed to both sides. Perhaps I enjoyed this film because I had a household with two electric wheel chairs. My husband was a paraplegic with two rotator cuff injuries and my eldest son had Duchesne muscular dystrophy. The movie didn't dwell on the havoc electric chairs driven by two active people can cause in houses and cars, but it did hit the nail on the head with the emotional havoc a debilitating or deadly disease can cause in a family. My son, like the father in the film, would search the Internet constantly looking for inroads in research. He was thrilled when the gene governing Duchesne was found and was frustrated when research stalled at a genetic fix or even a possibility of stopping the progression of the disease. He was very blessed in that he could get around independently in his wheel chair. Occasionally we would get a call that his batteries had died at the mall or the theater and to come get him. He was a great movie buff and his ambition was to direct movies. He would have been good, but his life ended at age twenty six due to complications of pneumonia. It was only the second time he was treated in a hospital. At the time of his death, he was considered and old man in terms of surviving dystrophy. The average life span was fifteen years.
Sure there was artistic license taken when the expected life spans were exaggerated but no matter how long or short a time one has a child, the loss is still devastating. Different people succumb to diseases in different time periods and different ways. Stephen Hawking is the premier example of longevity with any form of dystrophy. Think of the number of Hawkings that we have probably lost to these insidious diseases. Thank heaven that I am not a movie critic and do not have to dwell on the acting, writing, directing or casting of a movie. I just have to dwell on the message it is delivering, and this one has a great message.
The movie is Extraordinary Measures. If you have read the critics and are reluctant to spend money to see it in a theater, be sure and rent it when it is released as a video. By the way, I read the critics after I wrote my blog and applied my standard fare. If they like the movie, I generally do not see it. If they do not like the movie, I can't get to a theater fast enough to view it.
Me
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
A Short Side Road.
Instead of watching Massachusetts election results tonight, I saw Avatar for the third time. Do I believe it is worthy of three screenings? Only if you are interested in beautiful, imaginative scenery and a very graceful, almost balletic performance by the lead actress. I went the first time to review it for my grandchild's possible attendance, the second time to see if it was better in 3D or on the regular screen, and finally took her to an Imax 3D screening. It was spectacular and she watched most of it but fell asleep prior to the last battle scene.
Now onto to my real subject. The election that took place tonight. I first must admit that I am a registered Republican but vote the ticket instead of the party. I must also admit that I did not vote for the current president. I think that he is a great orator, but he obscures his goals in all the oratory. He does not address questions directly but obfuscates them. I worked in the medical field for many years and do not agree with his politics or his approach to the insurance question and many other items on his agenda. I hold more of a Jeffersonian approach than that of Madison. I believe that the Federal Government has become far too expansive and is trampling on individual and state rights.
I believe that the fundamental duties of the Federal Government is protection of the people from foreign occupation, issuing of money, administering policy that allows people to move easily and freely about the country and abiding by the constitution. I believe the states are responsible for the well being of their residents and that the Federal Government should support them in that duty, and that tax revenues should be shared with the states. The founding fathers left a process whereby, if the constitution does not spell out a solution to a situation that leaves the country in jeopardy, it can be amended. This method is ultimately acted upon be the people in the ratification process. It is up to the people of the United States to accept or reject legislation that affects their lives.
All three branches of government today seem to think they are above the people. There is not much the people can do to control the Supreme Court, but they can control Congress and the President in the electoral process. By writing to your elected officials and expressing your concerns, it will allow them to know the mind of the people. If they do not respond to the mind of the people, the people have the right to reject them. This can be done in the electoral process. There is also a process by which elected officials can be recalled, but it is very difficult, so read, think and pray carefully about the ballots you cast. My husband, although very weak and nearing the end of his life, still insisted on making his wishes known in the voting booth. The people do have power when they choose to exert it, but if you don't vote, don't complain about what you get.
Now I have one more concern. It should be very easy to address all elected officials on the Internet, but I have not found it. If any of you know how, without jumping through all sorts of hoops, please let me know. I like the idea much better than snail mail which in New Mexico is quite unreliable.
Me
Now onto to my real subject. The election that took place tonight. I first must admit that I am a registered Republican but vote the ticket instead of the party. I must also admit that I did not vote for the current president. I think that he is a great orator, but he obscures his goals in all the oratory. He does not address questions directly but obfuscates them. I worked in the medical field for many years and do not agree with his politics or his approach to the insurance question and many other items on his agenda. I hold more of a Jeffersonian approach than that of Madison. I believe that the Federal Government has become far too expansive and is trampling on individual and state rights.
I believe that the fundamental duties of the Federal Government is protection of the people from foreign occupation, issuing of money, administering policy that allows people to move easily and freely about the country and abiding by the constitution. I believe the states are responsible for the well being of their residents and that the Federal Government should support them in that duty, and that tax revenues should be shared with the states. The founding fathers left a process whereby, if the constitution does not spell out a solution to a situation that leaves the country in jeopardy, it can be amended. This method is ultimately acted upon be the people in the ratification process. It is up to the people of the United States to accept or reject legislation that affects their lives.
All three branches of government today seem to think they are above the people. There is not much the people can do to control the Supreme Court, but they can control Congress and the President in the electoral process. By writing to your elected officials and expressing your concerns, it will allow them to know the mind of the people. If they do not respond to the mind of the people, the people have the right to reject them. This can be done in the electoral process. There is also a process by which elected officials can be recalled, but it is very difficult, so read, think and pray carefully about the ballots you cast. My husband, although very weak and nearing the end of his life, still insisted on making his wishes known in the voting booth. The people do have power when they choose to exert it, but if you don't vote, don't complain about what you get.
Now I have one more concern. It should be very easy to address all elected officials on the Internet, but I have not found it. If any of you know how, without jumping through all sorts of hoops, please let me know. I like the idea much better than snail mail which in New Mexico is quite unreliable.
Me
Friday, January 15, 2010
Back to the Original Road
Well, now that I have pontificated enough, we'll get back to my original premise for the blog. A wild, old lady driving across country, flying by the seat of her pants.
I usually just pack the car and get a map and take off. But this time I was going to do research and a lot of preparation. I went to Barnes and Noble and bought a book of maps and two books on the best way to see civil war sites. When I got home, I realized that the map book was a truckers book with all the locations of stops, bypasses and other stuff essential to truckers, but my brain went into overload when I got to the cargo weights accepted by each state. So, back to Barnes and Nobel. This time I found a car guide with a map of the US along with a map of each state and some of the bigger cities. Ahhhhh success! I started with the US map and picked my major route. Very simple, just take I 40 to where I needed to turn off to go to Aiken, South Carolina, and proceed from there to Savannah, and then to the coast and up to Charleston. From there a piece of cake up more freeway to Richmond. Ha, I had it made very simply and direct.
Next on the agenda, back to Barnes and Noble (they love to see me come in) and buy guide books on places to see and things to do in each state, I went through. I had used Frommer in Europe and didn't have much trouble, so Frommer it was for the Carolinas, Georgia, and Virginia. I went through my guide books and marked in yellow all the spots that interested me. Wow, there were a lot of spots. I opened my map book again and started marking a more detailed route, went back to my guide books and decided I needed more detailed maps.
Back to Barnes and Noble again. By this time the clerks that hadn't known me before, got to calling me by name and asking how the journey was coming along. I just smiled and said great. I started marking routes through individual states but the yellow began to take over the maps. It was growing by exponential spurts. I decided to mark side trips in red and blue, but where these crossed the yellow they were orange and green. My maps were beginning to look like modern art done by a totally mad artist. I studied the mess and finally decided it was time to do what I do best. Fly by the seat of my pants.
Next up was choosing my wardrobe and packing. Now, I usually get all out of control when I do this, but this time was going to be different. I was packing only essentials. Let's see, I was going to be doing a lot of walking, so I needed good walking shoes. Hmmmmmmmmm, hadn't walked in a long time so down I went to a good shoe store and was quickly over-whelmed by the number of choices. A very nice young man explained that each type of shoe was made for a specific activity, "..,you know, running, jogging, walking, etc." He left out hopping and jumping, my major activity with grandchildren. I finally left the store with shoes, socks, insoles and $200 dollars less in my checking account. Now what other shoes, well, for going out in the evening or to church, heels; for less dressy occasions, but more than sight seeing, maybe some wedgies; oh, another pair of heels because my dress colors might not match, Anything else? No, if I needed more I'd just pick it up on the road. I packed all my denims, both long and Bermuda length (I am of the opinion that women of a certain age shouldn't wear shorts or go bra less), my light cotton Bermudas, all my tee shirts and any cotton shirts that matched my Bermudas, a swim suit, 15 pair of underwear (I don't like to do wash on the road), 2 slips (one white and one black) all the socks I owned (I tend to lose socks), all the comfortable bras I could find (believe me finding just one comfortable bras should win some sort of prize) and some pjs. I also needed a couple of nice dresses for church and two nice pant suits. I got out my big suitcase and packed and packed and packed. Gosh, I ran out of room. Maybe I should re-evaluate. Nah, just pack another case. I managed to pack underwear, socks, pjs and pant suits in my carry on along with my c-pap, various lotions and bath salts, tooth care items, my own brand of shampoo, my body wash and scrubby, two bottles of perfume and makeup. My medications get a case all their own. Well all there is left to do is to get the car serviced and packed.
I'll leave my narrative at this cliff hanging moment. Will she or won't she get all her junk in the back of the car? Will she forget anything? Will she be able to leave before 3pm (my usual departure time on trips)? Tune into my next blog to find out.
I usually just pack the car and get a map and take off. But this time I was going to do research and a lot of preparation. I went to Barnes and Noble and bought a book of maps and two books on the best way to see civil war sites. When I got home, I realized that the map book was a truckers book with all the locations of stops, bypasses and other stuff essential to truckers, but my brain went into overload when I got to the cargo weights accepted by each state. So, back to Barnes and Nobel. This time I found a car guide with a map of the US along with a map of each state and some of the bigger cities. Ahhhhh success! I started with the US map and picked my major route. Very simple, just take I 40 to where I needed to turn off to go to Aiken, South Carolina, and proceed from there to Savannah, and then to the coast and up to Charleston. From there a piece of cake up more freeway to Richmond. Ha, I had it made very simply and direct.
Next on the agenda, back to Barnes and Noble (they love to see me come in) and buy guide books on places to see and things to do in each state, I went through. I had used Frommer in Europe and didn't have much trouble, so Frommer it was for the Carolinas, Georgia, and Virginia. I went through my guide books and marked in yellow all the spots that interested me. Wow, there were a lot of spots. I opened my map book again and started marking a more detailed route, went back to my guide books and decided I needed more detailed maps.
Back to Barnes and Noble again. By this time the clerks that hadn't known me before, got to calling me by name and asking how the journey was coming along. I just smiled and said great. I started marking routes through individual states but the yellow began to take over the maps. It was growing by exponential spurts. I decided to mark side trips in red and blue, but where these crossed the yellow they were orange and green. My maps were beginning to look like modern art done by a totally mad artist. I studied the mess and finally decided it was time to do what I do best. Fly by the seat of my pants.
Next up was choosing my wardrobe and packing. Now, I usually get all out of control when I do this, but this time was going to be different. I was packing only essentials. Let's see, I was going to be doing a lot of walking, so I needed good walking shoes. Hmmmmmmmmm, hadn't walked in a long time so down I went to a good shoe store and was quickly over-whelmed by the number of choices. A very nice young man explained that each type of shoe was made for a specific activity, "..,you know, running, jogging, walking, etc." He left out hopping and jumping, my major activity with grandchildren. I finally left the store with shoes, socks, insoles and $200 dollars less in my checking account. Now what other shoes, well, for going out in the evening or to church, heels; for less dressy occasions, but more than sight seeing, maybe some wedgies; oh, another pair of heels because my dress colors might not match, Anything else? No, if I needed more I'd just pick it up on the road. I packed all my denims, both long and Bermuda length (I am of the opinion that women of a certain age shouldn't wear shorts or go bra less), my light cotton Bermudas, all my tee shirts and any cotton shirts that matched my Bermudas, a swim suit, 15 pair of underwear (I don't like to do wash on the road), 2 slips (one white and one black) all the socks I owned (I tend to lose socks), all the comfortable bras I could find (believe me finding just one comfortable bras should win some sort of prize) and some pjs. I also needed a couple of nice dresses for church and two nice pant suits. I got out my big suitcase and packed and packed and packed. Gosh, I ran out of room. Maybe I should re-evaluate. Nah, just pack another case. I managed to pack underwear, socks, pjs and pant suits in my carry on along with my c-pap, various lotions and bath salts, tooth care items, my own brand of shampoo, my body wash and scrubby, two bottles of perfume and makeup. My medications get a case all their own. Well all there is left to do is to get the car serviced and packed.
I'll leave my narrative at this cliff hanging moment. Will she or won't she get all her junk in the back of the car? Will she forget anything? Will she be able to leave before 3pm (my usual departure time on trips)? Tune into my next blog to find out.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
God Grant Us Love
I realize that once again I digress from my stated goal, but some things are just too important to ignore. I am thinking about remarks made by Pat Robertson on the unimaginable tragedy in Haiti. God is not an Olympian, full of malice and anger. He is our Father and creator full of love, forgiveness and grace. The earth was created to respond to the laws of physics and one of those laws is that two sources of matter cannot occupy the same space, so that when two great continental plates collide, something has to give and give it does at it's weakest point. The weakest point this time just happened to be in the very poor, beleaguered country of Haiti, nothing more. To bring it to a personal level, my husband was injured in a trucking accident 36 years ago. He should have been killed, but by the grace of God he was spared and only suffered a back injury that left him paraplegic. Now I know some people will think "in a wheel chair for the rest of his life, how is that an only". It is an only because it left him able to love and raise five children, find a different way to contribute to society, and brought out a great (that is great not famous) human being. It allowed his family and those around him to become aware of the value of life and to be more loving, giving, and forgiving. When he passed it left a great hole in many lives but because of him and his great example, we stop and help instead of turning our heads and rushing on. It has softened our hearts and expanded our minds as to what people, no matter what circumstances they are in, are very important not only to society, but to their eternal maker. Many people have been killed and injured in Haiti, but with our loving help, they will rise above tragedy and become a closer knit community. The loss will hurt for a long time, but they as a people have survived worse-slavery-and risen above it. But they can not do it alone. They need help, real and tangible. The best help they can receive from us is money donated to a responsible charity. I donate through my church and know that it will be used through local groups already existing in Haiti. I know that it will provide shelter, clothing, blankets, food and water through these groups. Other charities that I know of are the Red Cross and the Salvation army. Both Fox news and CNN have set up sites on the web with lists of responsible charities you can donate to.
As I said on my last blog, I love people and even though I know none of these people, my heart breaks for them. The last thing these people need is an influx of foreigners that know nothing about the country and their needs. Stay at home and support the professionals that are there. These people are industrious and work very hard for the little that they have. Give them time to get their heads around this disaster and you will find with the proper leadership, they will recover and perhaps be better off than before.
Another thing we can do is pray. It doesn't matter the religious differences and it doesn't matter the language the prayer is in, nor how great or simple it is; petitions to God are never ignored.
The last thing I want to say is THANK YOU to Ambassador Joseph for the eloquent response you gave to Pat Robertson's remarks. I don't think people here have heard much about the slave rebellion in Haiti and it's consequential effect on America. At the time this remarkable rebellion occurred the US was a slave holding nation and repressed reference to it because they were afraid of the repercussions that it would cause here. Thank you for letting us know
about a piece of world history that directly affected American History
Me
As I said on my last blog, I love people and even though I know none of these people, my heart breaks for them. The last thing these people need is an influx of foreigners that know nothing about the country and their needs. Stay at home and support the professionals that are there. These people are industrious and work very hard for the little that they have. Give them time to get their heads around this disaster and you will find with the proper leadership, they will recover and perhaps be better off than before.
Another thing we can do is pray. It doesn't matter the religious differences and it doesn't matter the language the prayer is in, nor how great or simple it is; petitions to God are never ignored.
The last thing I want to say is THANK YOU to Ambassador Joseph for the eloquent response you gave to Pat Robertson's remarks. I don't think people here have heard much about the slave rebellion in Haiti and it's consequential effect on America. At the time this remarkable rebellion occurred the US was a slave holding nation and repressed reference to it because they were afraid of the repercussions that it would cause here. Thank you for letting us know
about a piece of world history that directly affected American History
Me
Monday, January 11, 2010
Deadbeats
My intention when I started this blog was to write about my cross country journey and then last night, I took a left turn when I shouldn't and ended up in an entirely different place. Tonight I once again was going to take a different road, one that turned and twisted into a darker place. I was going to opine (no, I don't watch too much Bill O'Rielly, but I do kind of like his wry sense of humor) on a whole cast of characters called deadbeats. You know, the con-artists, politicians, some divorced fathers, etc. I got the whole blog written and when I re-read it, it sounded like a tired, disheartened old woman whining (too harsh a word? perhaps complaining is better) about all who had "done her wrong," I thought "Oh no, I'm turning into my mom." Now don't get me wrong, I loved my mother, but as she aged she became blind and once she made her bed and did the vacuuming, she had nothing to do but think conspiracy theory. Hmmmm - maybe I'm not turning into her, vacuuming and making my bed are two things I rarely do. By the way my granddaughter came in the other day and exclaimed, "Granma, I slept til nine this morning and when I saw what time it was, I thought (at this point she did the Macaulay Caulkin hands on each cheek shtick) 'Oh No! I'm turning into granma' ". By the way, I do tend to stay up late and rise late in the morning. I have received several lectures from my omniscient nine year old granddaughter on the advantages of rising early. I don't buy any of it. I've been a late night person from my early teens. Give me the great quiet of the late night and I'm as happy as, well you get it. Consequently, I'm starting all over.
Hmmm.....What to write now? I guess I will, in a way, write about my journey.
I LOVE PEOPLE, all kinds of people. People I never thought I'd meet and certainly never thought I'd like. From the ornery ticket agent in the tube in London, who when I asked for my change informed me that I hadn't given him enough for the ticket let alone change and then went on a diatribe about stupid Yanks - I told him I wasn't a Yank, I was a Phillies fan and a cowgirl from the wild west of Montana to boot. Both of those statements were fibs, but you should have seen the look of astonishment on his face - wish I'd had my camera out - to the homeless black man who guided me to the hole in the wall restaurant I was looking for in Memphis. Great restaurant by the way, good ribs and the best slaw I've had in the USA. I enjoyed his chatter so much, I tipped him. When I got to Jason's house I got a lecture about not talking to strangers, especially street people. Something bad could have happened. Hmmmm - maybe Jason is turning into my mom.
The greatest thing about the USA is the people. The monuments are impressive, but the people are more so. In that ribs cafe in Memphis, I met one of the prettiest little girls I have ever seen. She was about 3 and had her hair sectioned off in little short braids. I asked her mom if I could talk to her and she said yes. I told her how beautiful she was with that hairdo and how pretty she looked in her spotless white outfit. I got the usual reaction from a 3 year old, she hid her face in her mom's side. I made it a habit to stop in every state welcome center and get a map and register. This gave me time to talk to the people and if it were around lunch or dinner time get the name of a good restaurant that served the speciality of the area. I had lots of good food and met lots of great people. In one center, the two girls at the desk and I compared my nail polish to their toe nail polish. It was fun. In another a lady in her seventies thought I was really brave to go on a trip by myself. But after our conversation, she decided that if her husband had died as early as mine, just maybe she was daring enough also! Funny - me daring. I can be outspoken, dingy, even dumb, but daring? Nah - just looking for fun in all the right places. At a motel, I met an elderly gentleman and his wife. They were from Pigeon Fork. It has close to 200 outlet stores. Where on earth was Pigeon Fork? Why by Dollywood, of course. I made it a point to go through Pigeon Fork. The great thing about that little side trip was I got lost trying to find a less congested route back to the freeway and went over the mountain on a twisty, curvy little road. I found some great pottery places, a stain glass maker, a shop with a conglomerate of artists with a clerk so new that I had to show her how to ring up my purchase and the next one after. But best of all, I found a troll maker. I always thought my great grandma and grandpa were Swedish but just recently found out they were Norwegian. This troll maker was second generation Norse and made trolls by hand from sisal and interesting things he found in the forest. He has written a quaint little booklet about troll behavior and how to keep your troll in hand. I was the only customer in his store and had an unimaginably fun visit. I had a dream of eating in Paula Dean's restaurant in Charleston, but when I got there, the line of people circled the block and then some. After I got off the trolley, I found out that the line was just for reservations for the next day. Sorry Paula, didn't get to see you. Maybe next time. But, what I did get to do was go on the haunted jail tour. It was a hoot.
Well, I'm going to sign off for now, after all, I'm trying to comply with Bre's advice and it is 12:30 am.
Love all of you out there,
Me
P.S. If anyone out there is reading my blog, and have any comments (I hope only nice ones) or questions please let me know. Let's not ruin my self esteem, because after 50 years I finally got all esteemed up. If you think I'm not very good or just plain boring, you can opt to not read me unless you are a friend or a relative. You guys have to read me so that someone will.
Hmmm.....What to write now? I guess I will, in a way, write about my journey.
I LOVE PEOPLE, all kinds of people. People I never thought I'd meet and certainly never thought I'd like. From the ornery ticket agent in the tube in London, who when I asked for my change informed me that I hadn't given him enough for the ticket let alone change and then went on a diatribe about stupid Yanks - I told him I wasn't a Yank, I was a Phillies fan and a cowgirl from the wild west of Montana to boot. Both of those statements were fibs, but you should have seen the look of astonishment on his face - wish I'd had my camera out - to the homeless black man who guided me to the hole in the wall restaurant I was looking for in Memphis. Great restaurant by the way, good ribs and the best slaw I've had in the USA. I enjoyed his chatter so much, I tipped him. When I got to Jason's house I got a lecture about not talking to strangers, especially street people. Something bad could have happened. Hmmmm - maybe Jason is turning into my mom.
The greatest thing about the USA is the people. The monuments are impressive, but the people are more so. In that ribs cafe in Memphis, I met one of the prettiest little girls I have ever seen. She was about 3 and had her hair sectioned off in little short braids. I asked her mom if I could talk to her and she said yes. I told her how beautiful she was with that hairdo and how pretty she looked in her spotless white outfit. I got the usual reaction from a 3 year old, she hid her face in her mom's side. I made it a habit to stop in every state welcome center and get a map and register. This gave me time to talk to the people and if it were around lunch or dinner time get the name of a good restaurant that served the speciality of the area. I had lots of good food and met lots of great people. In one center, the two girls at the desk and I compared my nail polish to their toe nail polish. It was fun. In another a lady in her seventies thought I was really brave to go on a trip by myself. But after our conversation, she decided that if her husband had died as early as mine, just maybe she was daring enough also! Funny - me daring. I can be outspoken, dingy, even dumb, but daring? Nah - just looking for fun in all the right places. At a motel, I met an elderly gentleman and his wife. They were from Pigeon Fork. It has close to 200 outlet stores. Where on earth was Pigeon Fork? Why by Dollywood, of course. I made it a point to go through Pigeon Fork. The great thing about that little side trip was I got lost trying to find a less congested route back to the freeway and went over the mountain on a twisty, curvy little road. I found some great pottery places, a stain glass maker, a shop with a conglomerate of artists with a clerk so new that I had to show her how to ring up my purchase and the next one after. But best of all, I found a troll maker. I always thought my great grandma and grandpa were Swedish but just recently found out they were Norwegian. This troll maker was second generation Norse and made trolls by hand from sisal and interesting things he found in the forest. He has written a quaint little booklet about troll behavior and how to keep your troll in hand. I was the only customer in his store and had an unimaginably fun visit. I had a dream of eating in Paula Dean's restaurant in Charleston, but when I got there, the line of people circled the block and then some. After I got off the trolley, I found out that the line was just for reservations for the next day. Sorry Paula, didn't get to see you. Maybe next time. But, what I did get to do was go on the haunted jail tour. It was a hoot.
Well, I'm going to sign off for now, after all, I'm trying to comply with Bre's advice and it is 12:30 am.
Love all of you out there,
Me
P.S. If anyone out there is reading my blog, and have any comments (I hope only nice ones) or questions please let me know. Let's not ruin my self esteem, because after 50 years I finally got all esteemed up. If you think I'm not very good or just plain boring, you can opt to not read me unless you are a friend or a relative. You guys have to read me so that someone will.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
The Road Less Traveled
Today, I travel down a different road. Right at this very moment in time I am focusing on a great regret. In my many visits to my daughter in Washington state, I have tried to find two old friends, but to my chagrin, I wasn't able to locate them. I met these two women as a teenager and went through high school and college and weddings with them. They were closer to me than my brother and sister. This time I paid a small fee to a web site that advertised it could find anyone in the USA.
True to their word, they did pinpoint one of my friends and she lives just up the road a few miles. The reunion has been remarkable - just like we were never separated. We've done a lot of catching up on the last 42 years. Like typical women, we've laughed, cried, and joked over shared remembrances and new discussions. It really feels good to find someone who has traveled a similar road. Someone who knows that heartache can and has turned into some of the best and worst memories we have. Tempered by time and retrospection we have been able to winnow the good from life's difficult challenges.
Unfortunately I wasn't able to locate our other friend. We both began to look and neither of us could find an accurate address for her. In the mean time, I signed up for our church's website. I was looking up information on my extended family when I got the inspiration to put my lost friend's name in the information space. I hit return and her name came up. I was ecstatic until I noticed in the vital statistics that she had passed away. I began to cry when I saw that she had passed away just a month before I had the means to find her. I tried to find information on her death and burial site but only found a small death notice. I was so close but now so far away.
I am a Christian and do believe in life after death. I hope that my friend, her husband and my husband have found each other and are rejoicing over found friends as my friend and I are here.
Me
True to their word, they did pinpoint one of my friends and she lives just up the road a few miles. The reunion has been remarkable - just like we were never separated. We've done a lot of catching up on the last 42 years. Like typical women, we've laughed, cried, and joked over shared remembrances and new discussions. It really feels good to find someone who has traveled a similar road. Someone who knows that heartache can and has turned into some of the best and worst memories we have. Tempered by time and retrospection we have been able to winnow the good from life's difficult challenges.
Unfortunately I wasn't able to locate our other friend. We both began to look and neither of us could find an accurate address for her. In the mean time, I signed up for our church's website. I was looking up information on my extended family when I got the inspiration to put my lost friend's name in the information space. I hit return and her name came up. I was ecstatic until I noticed in the vital statistics that she had passed away. I began to cry when I saw that she had passed away just a month before I had the means to find her. I tried to find information on her death and burial site but only found a small death notice. I was so close but now so far away.
I am a Christian and do believe in life after death. I hope that my friend, her husband and my husband have found each other and are rejoicing over found friends as my friend and I are here.
Me
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