We spent four hours today at the Children's Museum in Indianapolis, one of the most renowned hands on museums in the world, and after that amazing experience, here's my big story.
When we were in one of the exhibits I got a little bit thirsty, and I thought we had a water bottle, so I walked over to the corner where our stuff was. I saw the water bottle and started chugging it, and all of the sudden I something went into my mouth (besides the water) and I started choking. Classic me. Anyway so I spit it up, looked in the bottle and realized there was a straw. And my mom looked over at me, because of the scene I was making. And asked me where I got the water bottle,I turned around and pointed to to the pile, and then to my horror I realized that the pile did not contain anything belonging to my family.
I realized I had taken, drunk from, and spit into a water bottle belonging to a family nearby who were playing with their little boy with some blocks.
And instead of doing the mature thing, like tell the family what happened and offer to buy them a new water bottle, I grabbed my moms arm, stuffed the bottle in her jacket she was wearing, and dragged her out of the exhibit.
And thats the end of my story, from the Indianapolis children's museum. Figured I'd share it.
Love,
Payton
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Payton's Guide to Midwest Cuisine
A post by Payton
Midwest Food. Let's discuss it. We are now in Indianapolis, Indiana, and we have begun seeing different food and restaurants in the area. We have lately started seeing restaurants such as: Steak and Shake, Waffle House, White Castle, and Bob Evans. If you don’t know what any of these are, or haven’t eaten at any of places, here is a guide of what you need to know.
For those of you who don’t know what Steak and Shake is, let’s get this straight; it is not a Jamba Juice for meat (that’s what I thought it was). They do not juice steak. It is basically In-n-Out, that serves steak burgers. The word shake, is referring to milkshakes. But do not let the idea of
Next…Waffle House.
To quote the brilliant philosopher, Jim Gaffigan,
But when you eat there, there should be minimum diarrhea, so long as you don’t order any meats.
Waffle house is one of my favorite road stops.
White Castle.
To explain what white castle is, it may be the only place that some of you will walk into and say, “ you know, I saw a McDonalds a few blocks down…”. That being said, if you ever get the chance, eat there at least once, just to say you did, it will be an experience you will never forget.
In a society that values supersize, White Castle’s burgers are surprisingly small. They are all sliders. This is a mere deception, thought up by corporate white castle. Because you never just have one burger. And THEY know that. That’s how they designed the menu.
For instance, the Sack Meal 1 is the base package. It includes 4 hamburgers, a medium fry and a small drink.
Or maybe, the crave case is what you need:
And for a side, maybe you would like some fries, cheese fries, fish sticks, (really?) mozzarella sticks, onion rings, chicken rings, (what?) or onion sticks.
If you ever DO go to White Castle, you may notice that their burgers have little holes, and you may ask yourself, what are these? To answer your question, those are the bullet holes from where they shot the rat.
Now, onto Bob Evans. There is actually not much to criticize about this place. It’s pretty down-home and cozy, and has the bendiest bendy straws ever!!!!!! Also, It may be the best 3 dollar meal you ever get at a restaurant. ONE ISSUE- their booths only seat 4 people. WHAT IS THAT? So I’m being forced to sit in a CHAIR, because you people didn’t manufacture big enough booths!? Disgraceful.
So, there you have it. A quick analysis of some places to be envied by Californians.
Love,
Payton
Midwest Food. Let's discuss it. We are now in Indianapolis, Indiana, and we have begun seeing different food and restaurants in the area. We have lately started seeing restaurants such as: Steak and Shake, Waffle House, White Castle, and Bob Evans. If you don’t know what any of these are, or haven’t eaten at any of places, here is a guide of what you need to know.
For those of you who don’t know what Steak and Shake is, let’s get this straight; it is not a Jamba Juice for meat (that’s what I thought it was). They do not juice steak. It is basically In-n-Out, that serves steak burgers. The word shake, is referring to milkshakes. But do not let the idea of
“steak burgers”fool you. for those of you who are think that this place is better, or fancier than the average fast food restaurant, it isn’t. STEAK and GROUND BEEF, ( for those of you who are still having trouble-ground beef is hamburger) IS THE SAME THING. BOTH FROM COWS. You’re all welcome, I just saved you from intense disappointment.
To quote the brilliant philosopher, Jim Gaffigan,
“If you don’t know what Waffle House is, imagine a gas station bathroom-that serves waffles”. Gaffigan is spot on. But let it be known, Waffle House, is AMAZING!
“If your ever up at 2 am and see a waffle house, remember, there’s still time to make one more bad decision”–Jim Gaffigan.
But when you eat there, there should be minimum diarrhea, so long as you don’t order any meats.
Waffle house is one of my favorite road stops.
White Castle.
To explain what white castle is, it may be the only place that some of you will walk into and say, “ you know, I saw a McDonalds a few blocks down…”. That being said, if you ever get the chance, eat there at least once, just to say you did, it will be an experience you will never forget.
In a society that values supersize, White Castle’s burgers are surprisingly small. They are all sliders. This is a mere deception, thought up by corporate white castle. Because you never just have one burger. And THEY know that. That’s how they designed the menu.
For instance, the Sack Meal 1 is the base package. It includes 4 hamburgers, a medium fry and a small drink.
Or maybe, the crave case is what you need:
“Food for many, or a very hungry individual.The Crave Case includes thirty 100%
“Beef”Original Sliders in a convenient carrying case. Perfect for your next group event!”
And for a side, maybe you would like some fries, cheese fries, fish sticks, (really?) mozzarella sticks, onion rings, chicken rings, (what?) or onion sticks.
If you ever DO go to White Castle, you may notice that their burgers have little holes, and you may ask yourself, what are these? To answer your question, those are the bullet holes from where they shot the rat.
Now, onto Bob Evans. There is actually not much to criticize about this place. It’s pretty down-home and cozy, and has the bendiest bendy straws ever!!!!!! Also, It may be the best 3 dollar meal you ever get at a restaurant. ONE ISSUE- their booths only seat 4 people. WHAT IS THAT? So I’m being forced to sit in a CHAIR, because you people didn’t manufacture big enough booths!? Disgraceful.
So, there you have it. A quick analysis of some places to be envied by Californians.
Love,
Payton
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Twain
I've been fighting a cold, am feeling tired and lonely since we just dropped off Matt at the airport after 4 great days with him, the reality set in that we will not see him for a month. Leaving him at the Springfield airport was kind of sad.
As we pulled away, the car was rather quiet and I was welling up, but if I let on I was sad, the kids would let on that they were sad, so we settled on not talking for a while.
Aside from the Lincoln library and Museum exceeding my expectations, the town of Springfield is very depressed. Buildings in disrepair, no one walking around, no funky cafes or cute shops. With the exception of the capital, nothing particularly noteworthy in the way of architecture. And like many larger towns a Subway (sandwiches) or Walgreens seem to be on every corner.
It is hard to believe that this was where Lincoln lived for a good portion of his life. We saw the train station where Lincoln gave his farewell speech from the back of the train the day he and his family headed to Washington D.C.
"My friends, no one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything. Here I have lived a quarter of a century, and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my children have been born, and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of the Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell.
A little over 4 brutal and war ravaged years later, a funeral train brought his body back to Springfield. He is in a very large tomb with his wife and 3 of his 4 sons, in what struck me as an ordinary cemetery.
For some reason because of Lincoln's connection to Springfield, I thought the city would look more quaint or well kept, preserved or something. Not that I thought people would be walking around with stove top hats, but you get my drift.
The library and museum were top notch. Painstaking research, and many everyday scenes and famous moments brought to life with life-size figures that look eerily real - down to the hair on Lincoln's arms.
In many of the exhibits, photography was prohibited. But the images were better than any history book I ever had in school. Two movies, displays about Lincoln, his boyhood, a replica of his cabin, the tragic death of the 3 of his four children, The Civil War, his assassination,the complexities of the times; all were explained very well, I could go back every day for a year and learn something new each time. The kids no doubt have an amazing base knowledge now. Although Wyatt was wondering where the big statue was of him sitting. (Ahhh - that's in Washington D.C. we told him)
Anyway,
Here are some more photos from Matt’s birthday weekend. We were able to spend it with two of the greatest Americans that ever lived – Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain. Below are the pics from Hannibal, Missouri.
I took this photo in Mark Twain's boyhood home in Hannibal, Missouri. Between his boyhood home and Museum there were endless quotes I wanted to sear into my brain. Some familiar, some new.
Much of the purpose of this trip is to remind us that everyone has a story. I think my kids are learning that, if nothing else.
Heard a story teller in character as a slave telling stories and teaching us a song.
A perk of homeschooling: You can eat ice cream while you learn...
Wyatt enjoyed his corn cob pipe along the banks of the Mighty Mississippi. We half expected to see Tom and Huck appear.
This warmed my heart - Payton fully engrossed in learning - no homework, no test, no grade, just pure self motivation fueled by curiosity. That makes me happy!
We all took our turn "painting" Tom Sawyer's fence.
Sally on Jim and Huck Finn's raft which doubled as a movie theater to watch excerpts of Huckleberry Finn - there is a sign next to it that says ..."Huck eventually realizes he must oppose society's values to help Jim. In doing so, Huck goes against his upbringing and follows his conscience. Join Huck on the raft as he realizes that Jim is indeed a human being and equal."
Matt's birthday dinner at the famous Strouds in Kansas City. All fried chicken made to order, served family style and with fresh, warm cinnamon rolls. Strouds is housed in an 1829 log cabin and farmhouse. It is off the beaten path, navigation wont get you there, but it is worth the extra effort to find it. One of most delicious and most memorable meals we've ever had.
After our weekend, like I said, we dropped off Matt at the Springfield airport and headed back onto the Interstate towards Indiana. The sun, a huge Bigstick Popsicle colored ball set behind us. I caught glimpses of it in my side view mirror.
Although I know the next month promises to be filled with more discoveries and adventures, while the day ended, I was eager to get settled for the evening. So after only an hour, we stopped in Champaign, Illinois for the night.
I wasn't in the mood to force everyone to write in their journals, brush their teeth or read. Maybe part of me knows its Sunday. Maybe part of me felt like we had our fill of learning the last couple of days and we needed to veg, especially with fighting a cold and missing Matt.
As I write this, the kids are eating popcorn and M&M's and watching Disney Channel in the hotel room. Can that count as dinner?
I will let a lot of this sink in for now, but I am eager to see what they remember about Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Twain.
As we pulled away, the car was rather quiet and I was welling up, but if I let on I was sad, the kids would let on that they were sad, so we settled on not talking for a while.
Aside from the Lincoln library and Museum exceeding my expectations, the town of Springfield is very depressed. Buildings in disrepair, no one walking around, no funky cafes or cute shops. With the exception of the capital, nothing particularly noteworthy in the way of architecture. And like many larger towns a Subway (sandwiches) or Walgreens seem to be on every corner.
It is hard to believe that this was where Lincoln lived for a good portion of his life. We saw the train station where Lincoln gave his farewell speech from the back of the train the day he and his family headed to Washington D.C.
"My friends, no one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything. Here I have lived a quarter of a century, and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my children have been born, and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of the Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell.
A little over 4 brutal and war ravaged years later, a funeral train brought his body back to Springfield. He is in a very large tomb with his wife and 3 of his 4 sons, in what struck me as an ordinary cemetery.
For some reason because of Lincoln's connection to Springfield, I thought the city would look more quaint or well kept, preserved or something. Not that I thought people would be walking around with stove top hats, but you get my drift.
The library and museum were top notch. Painstaking research, and many everyday scenes and famous moments brought to life with life-size figures that look eerily real - down to the hair on Lincoln's arms.
In many of the exhibits, photography was prohibited. But the images were better than any history book I ever had in school. Two movies, displays about Lincoln, his boyhood, a replica of his cabin, the tragic death of the 3 of his four children, The Civil War, his assassination,the complexities of the times; all were explained very well, I could go back every day for a year and learn something new each time. The kids no doubt have an amazing base knowledge now. Although Wyatt was wondering where the big statue was of him sitting. (Ahhh - that's in Washington D.C. we told him)
Anyway,
Here are some more photos from Matt’s birthday weekend. We were able to spend it with two of the greatest Americans that ever lived – Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain. Below are the pics from Hannibal, Missouri.
I took this photo in Mark Twain's boyhood home in Hannibal, Missouri. Between his boyhood home and Museum there were endless quotes I wanted to sear into my brain. Some familiar, some new.
Much of the purpose of this trip is to remind us that everyone has a story. I think my kids are learning that, if nothing else.
Wyatt enjoyed his corn cob pipe along the banks of the Mighty Mississippi. We half expected to see Tom and Huck appear.
This warmed my heart - Payton fully engrossed in learning - no homework, no test, no grade, just pure self motivation fueled by curiosity. That makes me happy!
We all took our turn "painting" Tom Sawyer's fence.
Matt's birthday dinner at the famous Strouds in Kansas City. All fried chicken made to order, served family style and with fresh, warm cinnamon rolls. Strouds is housed in an 1829 log cabin and farmhouse. It is off the beaten path, navigation wont get you there, but it is worth the extra effort to find it. One of most delicious and most memorable meals we've ever had.
After our weekend, like I said, we dropped off Matt at the Springfield airport and headed back onto the Interstate towards Indiana. The sun, a huge Bigstick Popsicle colored ball set behind us. I caught glimpses of it in my side view mirror.
Although I know the next month promises to be filled with more discoveries and adventures, while the day ended, I was eager to get settled for the evening. So after only an hour, we stopped in Champaign, Illinois for the night.
I wasn't in the mood to force everyone to write in their journals, brush their teeth or read. Maybe part of me knows its Sunday. Maybe part of me felt like we had our fill of learning the last couple of days and we needed to veg, especially with fighting a cold and missing Matt.
As I write this, the kids are eating popcorn and M&M's and watching Disney Channel in the hotel room. Can that count as dinner?
I will let a lot of this sink in for now, but I am eager to see what they remember about Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Twain.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
The Corniest State We Love (Iowa part 3 of 3)
Iowa is a magical place and some of our best memories of the trip were definitely made there.
Dwight and Arleen couldn’t have been better hosts down on the farm. Dwight made a couple of phone calls to his friends in the area, explaining what we were doing – roadschooling across America, and set us up with some really amazing experiences we will never forget.
Also we happened to be able to visit Dan D's Farm and Corn Maze on the day once a year when all the third graders from the area come for an educational field trip.
Before the educational part started, we got to play in the corn beach – basically imagine a sand box, but filled with millions of corn kernels. For some weird reason, I was the only adult playing in it.
We got to tag along with a class of 3rd graders and rotate through several educational presentations separated by huge bales of hay.
My favorite had to be the Iowa beef people. The guy gave a great presentation about how important and healthy beef is as we sat on the back of a flatbed trailer and listened. At the end everyone got a big chunk of hamburger on a toothpick right off the bar-b-q. Why don’t we go on field trips where they give you hamburgers at home?
We also heard a 10 minute presentation from the Dairy, Corn, Egg, Pork and Soy Bean people. After they all extolled the virtues of a daily diet rich in milk, beef, pork, eggs and corn I am pretty certain at this point that there are very few vegetarians or kosher people in Iowa. In fact, I am thinking people in Iowa for the most part do not have many issues with food.
Not sure they would believe me if I told them that there are people called vegans or that in California people are the ones eating the alfalfa sprouts. And considering a third of all corn grown in Iowa is for feed for livestock, these 3rd grader's parents' livelihood depends on either growing the corn for feed to sell to the people raising livestock, or raising the livestock, or both. So these kids best be getting their fill of bacon and pot roast and washing it down with 3 servings of milk a day (per the dairy lady)
And as if playing in corn kernels and the free Pork coloring book and miniature pig eraser from the Pork industry people wasn’t enough… we got to go in a corn maze. Don't even get me started on the awesomeness of that!
The following day, Dwight arranged for us to visit a farm nearby that was in the middle of harvesting their corn.
He arranged for us to ride in the enormous John Deere combine. A state of the art farm machine that goes through the corn fields 12 rows at a time, plowing them down, shucking them, and pulling the kernels from the cobs all at once.
We sat in the cockpit of this Star Wars type spaceship while the driver, the Luke Skywalker of the cornfield expertly piloted the John Deere combine.
Janey, Sally and Wyatt rode with him first. Payton and I went next.
I can honestly say if you ever get the opportunity to harvest corn – don’t think twice. It was thrilling! The kids were very impressed too. Here is some video: Click on the brown words below.
Harvesting corn – Janey, Sally and Wyatt riding in the combine
View from inside the combine
Leaving the farm, we had a long drive ahead of us, South towards Kansas City. As the dust swirled up behind my minivan, I felt the kind of gratitude that fills your heart when you experience something for the first time.
When for a moment you get a glimpse into a world different from your own. Not from a story, or picture, or book, or website.
For me it was my feet crunching across a field of newly harvested old cobs and dead cornstalk stubs. It was the Iowa wind. The knowledge that the cycle of farming end and begin simultaneously. Grabbing the bars attached to the green metal ladder and climbing up past the gargantuan tires. Sitting up so high, seeing above the stalks to the farm house and silo beyond. Taking part in the most modern way to perform an ancient harvest ritual.
The fact that this was for the farmers just another day's work underscored my excitement. The fact that this was for us, just another miraculous day on the road in America was the absolute best feeling in the world.
Dwight and Arleen couldn’t have been better hosts down on the farm. Dwight made a couple of phone calls to his friends in the area, explaining what we were doing – roadschooling across America, and set us up with some really amazing experiences we will never forget.
Also we happened to be able to visit Dan D's Farm and Corn Maze on the day once a year when all the third graders from the area come for an educational field trip.
Before the educational part started, we got to play in the corn beach – basically imagine a sand box, but filled with millions of corn kernels. For some weird reason, I was the only adult playing in it.
We got to tag along with a class of 3rd graders and rotate through several educational presentations separated by huge bales of hay.
My favorite had to be the Iowa beef people. The guy gave a great presentation about how important and healthy beef is as we sat on the back of a flatbed trailer and listened. At the end everyone got a big chunk of hamburger on a toothpick right off the bar-b-q. Why don’t we go on field trips where they give you hamburgers at home?
We also heard a 10 minute presentation from the Dairy, Corn, Egg, Pork and Soy Bean people. After they all extolled the virtues of a daily diet rich in milk, beef, pork, eggs and corn I am pretty certain at this point that there are very few vegetarians or kosher people in Iowa. In fact, I am thinking people in Iowa for the most part do not have many issues with food.
Not sure they would believe me if I told them that there are people called vegans or that in California people are the ones eating the alfalfa sprouts. And considering a third of all corn grown in Iowa is for feed for livestock, these 3rd grader's parents' livelihood depends on either growing the corn for feed to sell to the people raising livestock, or raising the livestock, or both. So these kids best be getting their fill of bacon and pot roast and washing it down with 3 servings of milk a day (per the dairy lady)
And as if playing in corn kernels and the free Pork coloring book and miniature pig eraser from the Pork industry people wasn’t enough… we got to go in a corn maze. Don't even get me started on the awesomeness of that!
The following day, Dwight arranged for us to visit a farm nearby that was in the middle of harvesting their corn.
He arranged for us to ride in the enormous John Deere combine. A state of the art farm machine that goes through the corn fields 12 rows at a time, plowing them down, shucking them, and pulling the kernels from the cobs all at once.
We sat in the cockpit of this Star Wars type spaceship while the driver, the Luke Skywalker of the cornfield expertly piloted the John Deere combine.
Janey, Sally and Wyatt rode with him first. Payton and I went next.
I can honestly say if you ever get the opportunity to harvest corn – don’t think twice. It was thrilling! The kids were very impressed too. Here is some video: Click on the brown words below.
Harvesting corn – Janey, Sally and Wyatt riding in the combine
View from inside the combine
Leaving the farm, we had a long drive ahead of us, South towards Kansas City. As the dust swirled up behind my minivan, I felt the kind of gratitude that fills your heart when you experience something for the first time.
When for a moment you get a glimpse into a world different from your own. Not from a story, or picture, or book, or website.
For me it was my feet crunching across a field of newly harvested old cobs and dead cornstalk stubs. It was the Iowa wind. The knowledge that the cycle of farming end and begin simultaneously. Grabbing the bars attached to the green metal ladder and climbing up past the gargantuan tires. Sitting up so high, seeing above the stalks to the farm house and silo beyond. Taking part in the most modern way to perform an ancient harvest ritual.
The fact that this was for the farmers just another day's work underscored my excitement. The fact that this was for us, just another miraculous day on the road in America was the absolute best feeling in the world.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Why We Love Iowa part 2 of 3
More about Iowa...straight from my Mom's Voice column this week click here to read.
Here is a photo of Dwight and Arleen's home - the quintessential Iowa farm house. We stayed in the little cabin you can see to left behind the main house.
Spring Valley Bed and Breakfast
Below is the view outside of our cabin's front door. Behind us were the goats, cows, roosters, hens, llama. And all over were peacocks.
More photos from the farm...
Spring Valley Bed and Breakfast
Below is the view outside of our cabin's front door. Behind us were the goats, cows, roosters, hens, llama. And all over were peacocks.
More photos from the farm...
Thursday, September 22, 2011
WE LOVE IOWA part 1 of 3
Iowa is one of those places that every American should visit. It is the heartland, where people work hard - really hard, farming the land they love. It is beautiful, especially if you like corn stalks.
I think we saw more corn in 4 days than I have seen in 40 years. More on that to come...
Only an hour over the border from South Dakota into Iowa and Wyatt said, "When they said Iowa is for corn, they were serious. There is corn everywhere you look, every second."
We stayed on a farm in Knoxville Iowa (50 minutes south of Des Moines in the middle of nowhere according to our standards) for 3 nights, but before we got there, we had 2 important stops in Iowa.
Spencer and Mason City.
We visited the Spencer Public Library. Home of Dewey from the true story Dewey the Small Town Library Cat who Touched the World. On one of the coldest mornings in January 1988, Vicki Myron, the librarian at the Spencer Library found a kitten in the drop box inside the library. He was half frozen and in shock. She saved him and he ended up being the library cat and most loved citizen of the town of 10,000. He died 16 years later in 2006 and Vicki retired to write a book about Dewey and all of his funny antics as well as how he made such a difference in so many people's lives.
Joy, who is mentioned in the book began working at the library when Dewey was a year old. She was there, still working the day we visited. She treated us to a behind the scenes tour. We saw where Dewey was found, where he slept, ate, and heard funny stories. The other patrons in the library must be used to people coming in to pay tribute to Dewey because Joy spoke enthusiastically, not using her library voice and laughed heartily as she reminisced and took us through the library.
Joy let Wyatt get in the drop box where Dewey was found.
Dewey buried outside the library.
The second stop was Mason City - Meredith Willson's home town. Meredith Willson is the man who brought us the Music Man. His boyhood home is still there, we got to go inside and see the house as it was over a hundred years ago when he was born in 1902. An older gentleman, an Iowa native was chock full of info. Next door to the house they built a fun place to visit called Music Man Square - built like the main street in River City Iowa - the fictional town based on Willson's own Mason City. If you are a fan of The Music Man - this is a must see!
Ya got Trouble, right here in River City...with a capital 'T' and that rhymes with 'P' And that stands for Pool!
(By the way... sad fact, Mason City Municipal Airport is the airport Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens took off from the night their plane crashed)
Happy Observation: We saw winter formal couples come into Ruby Tuesday - the most upscale restaurant in Mason City. There were no Limos- imagine that. And one of the guys had a cowboy hat on with his suit. They all looked beautiful and happy. Way to keep it real Iowa!
Stay tuned, I think I finally figured out how to get video onto my blog. Also, coming soon, a book review from Sally, Mom's Voice from the farm, and... a lesson in corn 101.
Right now, I have to go - Matt flew in at midnight last night to Kansas City. Today is his birthday and we are going to eat some bar-b-q!
I think we saw more corn in 4 days than I have seen in 40 years. More on that to come...
Only an hour over the border from South Dakota into Iowa and Wyatt said, "When they said Iowa is for corn, they were serious. There is corn everywhere you look, every second."
We stayed on a farm in Knoxville Iowa (50 minutes south of Des Moines in the middle of nowhere according to our standards) for 3 nights, but before we got there, we had 2 important stops in Iowa.
Spencer and Mason City.
We visited the Spencer Public Library. Home of Dewey from the true story Dewey the Small Town Library Cat who Touched the World. On one of the coldest mornings in January 1988, Vicki Myron, the librarian at the Spencer Library found a kitten in the drop box inside the library. He was half frozen and in shock. She saved him and he ended up being the library cat and most loved citizen of the town of 10,000. He died 16 years later in 2006 and Vicki retired to write a book about Dewey and all of his funny antics as well as how he made such a difference in so many people's lives.
Joy, who is mentioned in the book began working at the library when Dewey was a year old. She was there, still working the day we visited. She treated us to a behind the scenes tour. We saw where Dewey was found, where he slept, ate, and heard funny stories. The other patrons in the library must be used to people coming in to pay tribute to Dewey because Joy spoke enthusiastically, not using her library voice and laughed heartily as she reminisced and took us through the library.
The second stop was Mason City - Meredith Willson's home town. Meredith Willson is the man who brought us the Music Man. His boyhood home is still there, we got to go inside and see the house as it was over a hundred years ago when he was born in 1902. An older gentleman, an Iowa native was chock full of info. Next door to the house they built a fun place to visit called Music Man Square - built like the main street in River City Iowa - the fictional town based on Willson's own Mason City. If you are a fan of The Music Man - this is a must see!
(By the way... sad fact, Mason City Municipal Airport is the airport Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens took off from the night their plane crashed)
Happy Observation: We saw winter formal couples come into Ruby Tuesday - the most upscale restaurant in Mason City. There were no Limos- imagine that. And one of the guys had a cowboy hat on with his suit. They all looked beautiful and happy. Way to keep it real Iowa!
Stay tuned, I think I finally figured out how to get video onto my blog. Also, coming soon, a book review from Sally, Mom's Voice from the farm, and... a lesson in corn 101.
Right now, I have to go - Matt flew in at midnight last night to Kansas City. Today is his birthday and we are going to eat some bar-b-q!
Friday, September 16, 2011
Time Warp Glitch
So I realized I've run into a bit of a glitch with my blogging and weekly column.
My Mom's Voice Column comes out every Friday, but my deadline is the Monday before. So by the time the paper is out, the events I am writing about happened a week earlier. Which seems like an eternity while on the road.
For example, this week's column was about the potato museum, which was a week and 3 states ago. But it was just published today.
Sometimes my column will be based on a blog post I have already written so the material is re-purposed.
The waters are muddied in this blogging/column writing time warp and I am probably the only one who really is investing brain cells on this issue.
With that said... here is this week's Mom's Voice column - Our visit to the potato museum.
and the week before... A Stop Not on the Itinerary
Just click on each to read.
They will also be posted on the Mom's Voice tab on this blog.
We are heading to IOWA tomorrow.
My Mom's Voice Column comes out every Friday, but my deadline is the Monday before. So by the time the paper is out, the events I am writing about happened a week earlier. Which seems like an eternity while on the road.
For example, this week's column was about the potato museum, which was a week and 3 states ago. But it was just published today.
Sometimes my column will be based on a blog post I have already written so the material is re-purposed.
The waters are muddied in this blogging/column writing time warp and I am probably the only one who really is investing brain cells on this issue.
With that said... here is this week's Mom's Voice column - Our visit to the potato museum.
and the week before... A Stop Not on the Itinerary
Just click on each to read.
They will also be posted on the Mom's Voice tab on this blog.
We are heading to IOWA tomorrow.
South Dakota Real and Imagined
Dinner with the Fuss family will be remembered as a highlight of our trip.
Adelaide MacKenzie Fuss is a native of Newport Beach and now lives with her husband Larry and 3 kids in Rapid City, South Dakota. She is the author of The Water Men, a novel which is set in Newport Beach. You can read a review of the book here.
I haven’t seen her in more than 12 years, but the minute she found out we were passing through her town, we were made to feel like royalty.
We spent several hours and stayed for dinner in her historic Victorian house built in 1880 – six years after gold was discovered in the Black Hills and a gold rush began and 9 years before South Dakota became a state. It was a tumultuous time for the Sioux and Lakota tribes who considered the black hills sacred.
The house, as the saying goes, has been a labor of love. Adelaide and Larry are remodeling the huge house one section at a time. Their home is a reflection of their eclectic, fun and highly individualistic spirit. I envied their vision and ability to ignore trends. It was Victorian architecture meets Black Hills Industrial meets retro Palm Springs. Funky, original, homey.
Adelaide in her kitchen.
Me giving the dogs (Maggie, Mylo, Buford, and Jeff) a treat. Buford is the neighbor's dog and is a redbone coonhound like Old Dan and Little Ann!
My mom, the kids and I were treated to a casual dinner of pizza and buffalo burgers. The delicious buffalo burgers Adelaide made could only be topped by the lively conversation and the funny antics of the three dogs the family has rescued.
Yesterday we left Rapid City after dropping my mom off at the airport and began our rainy trek across the great state of South Dakota. Rapid City is located near the Western boarder and Sioux Falls – is at the opposite end of the state, 5 hours east.
The scenery was beautiful but I had a few white knuckled moments on the highway - huge truck tires splashing water up from the road exacerbated the poor visibility from the falling rain on the windshield. I didn’t want the kids to know the enormity of the responsibility I was feeling for all of our safety and how scared I was driving, almost blindly at times past the big trucks.
I will fondly remember the less stressful parts of the drive (gentler rain) with affection for the Great Plains - rolling hills, huge fields of sunflowers growing, fields dotted with enormous rolls of hay.
It was easy to imagine the Lakota tribes, out there beyond the farmland, smoke rising from the tops of their tepees in the distance.
I imagined lines of covered wagons horses and people beyond I-90 I was driving on. Pioneers, after weeks of sun burnt miles, thirsty, caked with dirt, blistered hands and feet. This rain would have felt good in the beginning but make a muddy mess and chill each person to the bone as it continued. My digital car thermometer read only 40 degrees, not taking into account the wind.
I imagined Massive dinosaurs like the skeletons unearthed not far from here that we had seen at the museum in Rapid City; running, fighting and gnashing food in their powerful jaws.
I also could vividly see Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, with their 60 twenty something men. After a long day of travel and collecting soil and plants from this new frontier to send to President Jefferson with detailed notes, they would be setting up camp for the evening now. Writing in their journals may have to wait for the rain to stop, as ink and water do not mix.
At one point I excitedly turned off the highway following the sign to
I wonder… how will history remember us – one of thousands of cars, trucks, or RVs driving on the paved highway through the Great Plains?
Adelaide MacKenzie Fuss is a native of Newport Beach and now lives with her husband Larry and 3 kids in Rapid City, South Dakota. She is the author of The Water Men, a novel which is set in Newport Beach. You can read a review of the book here.
I haven’t seen her in more than 12 years, but the minute she found out we were passing through her town, we were made to feel like royalty.
We spent several hours and stayed for dinner in her historic Victorian house built in 1880 – six years after gold was discovered in the Black Hills and a gold rush began and 9 years before South Dakota became a state. It was a tumultuous time for the Sioux and Lakota tribes who considered the black hills sacred.
The house, as the saying goes, has been a labor of love. Adelaide and Larry are remodeling the huge house one section at a time. Their home is a reflection of their eclectic, fun and highly individualistic spirit. I envied their vision and ability to ignore trends. It was Victorian architecture meets Black Hills Industrial meets retro Palm Springs. Funky, original, homey.
My mom, the kids and I were treated to a casual dinner of pizza and buffalo burgers. The delicious buffalo burgers Adelaide made could only be topped by the lively conversation and the funny antics of the three dogs the family has rescued.
Yesterday we left Rapid City after dropping my mom off at the airport and began our rainy trek across the great state of South Dakota. Rapid City is located near the Western boarder and Sioux Falls – is at the opposite end of the state, 5 hours east.
The scenery was beautiful but I had a few white knuckled moments on the highway - huge truck tires splashing water up from the road exacerbated the poor visibility from the falling rain on the windshield. I didn’t want the kids to know the enormity of the responsibility I was feeling for all of our safety and how scared I was driving, almost blindly at times past the big trucks.
I will fondly remember the less stressful parts of the drive (gentler rain) with affection for the Great Plains - rolling hills, huge fields of sunflowers growing, fields dotted with enormous rolls of hay.
It was easy to imagine the Lakota tribes, out there beyond the farmland, smoke rising from the tops of their tepees in the distance.
I imagined lines of covered wagons horses and people beyond I-90 I was driving on. Pioneers, after weeks of sun burnt miles, thirsty, caked with dirt, blistered hands and feet. This rain would have felt good in the beginning but make a muddy mess and chill each person to the bone as it continued. My digital car thermometer read only 40 degrees, not taking into account the wind.
I imagined Massive dinosaurs like the skeletons unearthed not far from here that we had seen at the museum in Rapid City; running, fighting and gnashing food in their powerful jaws.
I also could vividly see Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, with their 60 twenty something men. After a long day of travel and collecting soil and plants from this new frontier to send to President Jefferson with detailed notes, they would be setting up camp for the evening now. Writing in their journals may have to wait for the rain to stop, as ink and water do not mix.
At one point I excitedly turned off the highway following the sign to
“Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Home”but the kids started complaining they didn’t want to see it and it really didn’t mean anything to them – UGGHHHH- where did I go wrong! – they just aren’t into the Little House books. So already with a long drive and poor weather, uncertain of how far down her house would be, I agreed to turn around on the rural road, head back to the main highway and said, “Well, OK, just try to picture that this is where she lived”
I wonder… how will history remember us – one of thousands of cars, trucks, or RVs driving on the paved highway through the Great Plains?
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Mount Rushmore
We are currently in South Dakota with my mom. She is going home in a couple of hours. We saw Mt. Rushmore. Oh my gosh, It was way more emotional than I expected. Of course the engineering of it all is mind blowing and they have an exhibition hall that explains how and why it was built with videos and real tools, newspaper articles and things they used on display. But my favorite was the illumination ceremony at night. There is a large amphitheater where everyone sits and A park ranger gave a talk about the 4 presidents: Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt(teddy) and Lincoln - and what they each sacrificed and contributed to the building of our nation. This was followed by a great movie.
And then, the park ranger called down all veterans or anyone who had lost someone in the military to be honored and help retreat the American flag for the night. As they walked down everyone else was clapping. After that each of them had an opportunity to say their name and where they served into the microphone. There were a couple of guys who were WWII vets! One mom got up with her husband and said they had lost a son in 2004.
Then they asked that everyone join in singing the National Anthem. It was a very emotionally charged experience with the monument lit up and a full moon. I was brought to tears several times with gratitude for those who serve and gratitude for our freedom.
I bumped into the mom and dad who lost a son on our way out, which was weird because I was hoping I would just to say thank you but there was probably a thousand people there. I gave her a hug and thanked her for her son's sacrifice. I told her it is my mission that my kids will never take their freedoms for granted. I asked her what her son's name was and she said Todd. We had this entire conversation while we were walking and I was holding Wyatt's hand. I ached for her and pictured her holding little Todd's hand. I couldn’t begin to imagine what she would give to hold her son’s hand one more day. I got that somehow my fortune was tied to her loss.
On a lighter note, we came back the next day because Wyatt completed his Jr. Ranger booklet and earned a Junior Ranger badge. The ranger checked over his booklet and had him take an oath to take care of the National Parks and stuff. He was the only one of the kids who finished the booklet. We were all proud of Wyatt, it was his moment to shine.
The following day we went to the Journey museum in Rapid City where we learned about the Black Hills from the times of dinosaurs, the Lakota people, the pioneers, the gold rush and up until the present. Wyatt was very busy at one display using real archeological tools to dig up dinosaur fossils. As he worked he said, “For some reason I’m really getting into dinosaurs” and he worked a little more and added, “It’s like we have a job to do instead of just listening to stuff.”
And then, the park ranger called down all veterans or anyone who had lost someone in the military to be honored and help retreat the American flag for the night. As they walked down everyone else was clapping. After that each of them had an opportunity to say their name and where they served into the microphone. There were a couple of guys who were WWII vets! One mom got up with her husband and said they had lost a son in 2004.
Then they asked that everyone join in singing the National Anthem. It was a very emotionally charged experience with the monument lit up and a full moon. I was brought to tears several times with gratitude for those who serve and gratitude for our freedom.
I bumped into the mom and dad who lost a son on our way out, which was weird because I was hoping I would just to say thank you but there was probably a thousand people there. I gave her a hug and thanked her for her son's sacrifice. I told her it is my mission that my kids will never take their freedoms for granted. I asked her what her son's name was and she said Todd. We had this entire conversation while we were walking and I was holding Wyatt's hand. I ached for her and pictured her holding little Todd's hand. I couldn’t begin to imagine what she would give to hold her son’s hand one more day. I got that somehow my fortune was tied to her loss.
On a lighter note, we came back the next day because Wyatt completed his Jr. Ranger booklet and earned a Junior Ranger badge. The ranger checked over his booklet and had him take an oath to take care of the National Parks and stuff. He was the only one of the kids who finished the booklet. We were all proud of Wyatt, it was his moment to shine.
The following day we went to the Journey museum in Rapid City where we learned about the Black Hills from the times of dinosaurs, the Lakota people, the pioneers, the gold rush and up until the present. Wyatt was very busy at one display using real archeological tools to dig up dinosaur fossils. As he worked he said, “For some reason I’m really getting into dinosaurs” and he worked a little more and added, “It’s like we have a job to do instead of just listening to stuff.”
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Dreams Can Come True
I am quite certain there are few places in the world that I would rather visit than the front lawn of the Idaho Falls Public Library.
There, one can see the statue of Billy Coleman and his dogs, Old Dan and Little Ann – from Wilson Rawls’ classic Where the Red Fern Grows
Of the four kids Payton was the only one that has read the book – so for the others we did a crash course on Wilson Rawls and watched the DVD in the car driving through rural Idaho. (next best thing)
The main character, Billy Coleman lives in the Ozarks in Oklahoma and more than anything wants his own hunting hounds. There is no way his family can afford to buy him one. Billy works for two long years and saves up enough to buy himself a pair of hound puppies. His happiest days are spent hunting coons with his dogs in the mountains.
HERE'S WHAT I WANTED THE KIDS TO KNOW: The story is sweet and sad, and there are great lessons to be taken from it… but the main thing is, author Wilson Rawls exemplifies a man who did not let go of his dream. Like his character Billy, Rawls grew up in the Ozarks of Oklahoma very poor. He was homeschooled by his mother. After reading The Call of the Wild he fell in love with the book, reading it several times and carrying it around with him until it was well worn. Inspired by his favorite book, Wilson dreamed that one day he would be a writer.
Rawls longed to write and did so whenever he could, but he never had the opportunity to be formally educated. During the depression he moved around a lot going wherever he could find work. He was so poor at times he found paper in trash cans to write on. He was a prolific writer, and before long, had a trunk full of writing that he had never shown anyone. He was embarrassed about his lack of formal education and horrible grammar. He burned the entire contents of the trunk including the story which would one day become Where the Red Fern Grows.
When he told his wife Sophie of his dream and of the story he had burned she encouraged him to rewrite it. Since Rawls never learned to type, he wrote everything in longhand and his wife typed it up, edited it for him and helped find a publisher. This all took place while they were living in Idaho Falls. It was finally published in 1961 and has since become a classic and required reading in schools nationwide.
The statue which Marilyn Hansen created sits on a grassy expanse in front of the Idaho Falls Public Library and is called "Dreams Can Come True."
It was important to me that the kids see this statue as it is a symbol to dream ambitiously. To never be afraid to work hard and overcome obstacles to make those dreams come true.
Wilson Rawls once said in an interview, "When speaking in the schools, I tell youngsters to keep reaching out for whatever goals they set for themselves. As long as they are honest and truthful and don't hurt anyone along the way, they will have help in reaching their goals. I know I did."
ITINERARY UPDATE: We have left Idaho and stayed in Yellowstone National Park a couple of days... more to come on that, but we were without cell phone, internet, or TV. After Yellowstone, we drove across Wyoming (5 hours)and came into South Dakota to see Mt. Rushmore. Still in Rapid City one more night. Photos and recap will follow. My mom leaves on Thursday and the kids and I will make the trek across South Dakota and head into Iowa over the weekend. 2 long days of driving books on tape and movies are in our future...
Stay Tuned!
There, one can see the statue of Billy Coleman and his dogs, Old Dan and Little Ann – from Wilson Rawls’ classic Where the Red Fern Grows
Of the four kids Payton was the only one that has read the book – so for the others we did a crash course on Wilson Rawls and watched the DVD in the car driving through rural Idaho. (next best thing)
The main character, Billy Coleman lives in the Ozarks in Oklahoma and more than anything wants his own hunting hounds. There is no way his family can afford to buy him one. Billy works for two long years and saves up enough to buy himself a pair of hound puppies. His happiest days are spent hunting coons with his dogs in the mountains.
HERE'S WHAT I WANTED THE KIDS TO KNOW: The story is sweet and sad, and there are great lessons to be taken from it… but the main thing is, author Wilson Rawls exemplifies a man who did not let go of his dream. Like his character Billy, Rawls grew up in the Ozarks of Oklahoma very poor. He was homeschooled by his mother. After reading The Call of the Wild he fell in love with the book, reading it several times and carrying it around with him until it was well worn. Inspired by his favorite book, Wilson dreamed that one day he would be a writer.
Rawls longed to write and did so whenever he could, but he never had the opportunity to be formally educated. During the depression he moved around a lot going wherever he could find work. He was so poor at times he found paper in trash cans to write on. He was a prolific writer, and before long, had a trunk full of writing that he had never shown anyone. He was embarrassed about his lack of formal education and horrible grammar. He burned the entire contents of the trunk including the story which would one day become Where the Red Fern Grows.
When he told his wife Sophie of his dream and of the story he had burned she encouraged him to rewrite it. Since Rawls never learned to type, he wrote everything in longhand and his wife typed it up, edited it for him and helped find a publisher. This all took place while they were living in Idaho Falls. It was finally published in 1961 and has since become a classic and required reading in schools nationwide.
The statue which Marilyn Hansen created sits on a grassy expanse in front of the Idaho Falls Public Library and is called "Dreams Can Come True."
It was important to me that the kids see this statue as it is a symbol to dream ambitiously. To never be afraid to work hard and overcome obstacles to make those dreams come true.
Wilson Rawls once said in an interview, "When speaking in the schools, I tell youngsters to keep reaching out for whatever goals they set for themselves. As long as they are honest and truthful and don't hurt anyone along the way, they will have help in reaching their goals. I know I did."
ITINERARY UPDATE: We have left Idaho and stayed in Yellowstone National Park a couple of days... more to come on that, but we were without cell phone, internet, or TV. After Yellowstone, we drove across Wyoming (5 hours)and came into South Dakota to see Mt. Rushmore. Still in Rapid City one more night. Photos and recap will follow. My mom leaves on Thursday and the kids and I will make the trek across South Dakota and head into Iowa over the weekend. 2 long days of driving books on tape and movies are in our future...
Stay Tuned!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
College vs. Prison
I am really giddy about the independent bookstore we stumbled upon in the historic section of Boise yesterday. I got 3 new books.
1. “Lewis and Clark’s Bittersweet Crossing” signed by the author Carol Lynn MacGregor. According to the jacket flap she is a native of Idaho, grew up near Boise, still resides here and is a PhD American historian. The illustrator is an Idahoan painter and his watercolor illustrations in the book are gorgeous. This children's book is very thorough - I'm sure most adults would be surprised by what they would learn. The whole Lewis and Clark thing always seemed boring to me and from school I only remember these two guys went exploring west and there was a test with a map with a line - the trail- from where they started to where they ended. I don't remember any nail bitting, hair raising, emotionally charged moments. I do remember the Indians helped them, (something like they traded the Indians stuff and the Indians pointed them in the right direction) but the significance of these encounters and of their journey was lost on me. I am looking forward to relearning it the right way with the kids.
That's why I'm excited about this book. It is written by an expert with passion. It is not a text book. MacGregor mentions when Lewis bought his black Newfoundland dog Seaman for a hefty $20 in 1804. The dog would travel with him through thick and thin. Which brings me to the next book I bought:
2. “The Captain’s Dog, My Journey with the Lewis and Clark Tribe” by Roland Smith. A historical fiction novel that tells the story of Lewis and Clark through the dog, Seaman’s eyes.
3. “Wolf Stalker: A Mystery in Yellowstone Park” written by a mother and daughter team (how cool is that) currently writing a series of children’s chapter books called Mysteries in our National Parks, published by National Geographic.
Yesterday was Payton’s birthday so it was a fun day – we spent time on the campus of Boise State. Ate lunch in the Student Union among backpack toting and laptop engaged students.
After lunch we checked out the football stadium with their signature blue Astroturf.
We headed back to the Student Union where the kids bowled, and played ping pong and Matt and Payton played 4 rounds of pool.
Today we are headed to the tour of the Old Idaho Penitentiary. Like Alcatraz – a prison turned tourist attraction.
It is good for the kids to hang out on a college campus one day and a prison the next. This way they can get an idea of which life they may be better suited for and then figure out which path leads where.
Before we get going we will read Lewis and Clark’s Bittersweet Crossing, and do some journal writing, math, and laundry.
ITINERARY UPDATE: Matt left early this morning and we pick up my mom from the Boise Airport at 4:30. From the airport will head out to Twin Falls – spend one night there on the way to Yellowstone. She will be with us for a week.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Bend, Oregon. I am the Student.
Spent Labor Day weekend with our close life-long friends, Jenni and Farrell Griswold and their 3 kids in Bend Oregon. It was, in a word - no wait, that's impossible - in 5 words: Relaxing, fun, beautiful, long-overdue, and energizing. I treated it like a holiday weekend – school was put on hold and we just relished in each others company in the beauty of Central Oregon.
One morning, a deep discussion unfolded between Jenni and I on a 6 mile walk. More accurately, our discussion erupted with the first step out the front door. Within seconds, we were engrossed in topics relating to personal growth, children, marriage, work, or any one of the world’s complex problems.
Winding along the Deschutes River, kicking up dirt, smelling the ponderosa pines that surrounded us, stopping only for a few seconds here or there to admire a family of wild swans or a particularly beautiful vista took what would have already been a rare opportunity to talk and set it among a breathtaking backdrop.
My heart felt like high tide.
As the sun shined on us and our heart rates increased, we passed by a multitude of people also taking advantage of the glorious morning of greens, blues, and browns. Typical Bend residents on the trail – running, walking, or mountain biking – usually with a dog and always with a smile and a hello.
Towards the end of our walk, two women approached us. They were jogging side by side. Both over fifty years old and in apparent great physical shape. As they came into view we noticed that they were literally tethered to each other. The woman on the right wore a sign that said “Blind Triathelete”
“You’re awesome!” Jenni yelled and they smiled as they passed us.
We turned and watched the two women jog away in sync down the dirt path.
Jenni and I grabbed each other’s arms and both burst into tears, bending over, crying and laughing at ourselves. It was a kindred soul moment. We were not about to let that level of Grace, Strength, Beauty, Friendship, Trust, and Woman Power cross our path without a flood of emotion. Humbled, and still giggling at our dorky outburst, we continued our walk.
“Makes you think, what’s my excuse?” I said.
I was happy those two teachers showed up at the beginning of our Great American Field Trip to remind me that I too, am very much a student.
One morning, a deep discussion unfolded between Jenni and I on a 6 mile walk. More accurately, our discussion erupted with the first step out the front door. Within seconds, we were engrossed in topics relating to personal growth, children, marriage, work, or any one of the world’s complex problems.
Winding along the Deschutes River, kicking up dirt, smelling the ponderosa pines that surrounded us, stopping only for a few seconds here or there to admire a family of wild swans or a particularly beautiful vista took what would have already been a rare opportunity to talk and set it among a breathtaking backdrop.
My heart felt like high tide.
As the sun shined on us and our heart rates increased, we passed by a multitude of people also taking advantage of the glorious morning of greens, blues, and browns. Typical Bend residents on the trail – running, walking, or mountain biking – usually with a dog and always with a smile and a hello.
Towards the end of our walk, two women approached us. They were jogging side by side. Both over fifty years old and in apparent great physical shape. As they came into view we noticed that they were literally tethered to each other. The woman on the right wore a sign that said “Blind Triathelete”
“You’re awesome!” Jenni yelled and they smiled as they passed us.
We turned and watched the two women jog away in sync down the dirt path.
Jenni and I grabbed each other’s arms and both burst into tears, bending over, crying and laughing at ourselves. It was a kindred soul moment. We were not about to let that level of Grace, Strength, Beauty, Friendship, Trust, and Woman Power cross our path without a flood of emotion. Humbled, and still giggling at our dorky outburst, we continued our walk.
“Makes you think, what’s my excuse?” I said.
I was happy those two teachers showed up at the beginning of our Great American Field Trip to remind me that I too, am very much a student.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)