Places

 If you have been in the Atlanta airport Raise your Hand! It is a magnificent travel destination as well as a nightmare if you are in a wheelchair and someone else controls your mobility. Eleanor and her sister were in the Atlanta airport both confined to wheel chairs, trying to get to Eglin Air Force Base, where her son was stationed. Unfortunately, massive storms were looming over the city and flights were cancelled right and left. Their gate changed twice in three hours. Up and down on the elevators, onto the nearest terminal, back up on the elevator and then learning you are not there yet. It lasted four hours until they were dropped off at the new gate listing. Thousands of people passing in front of them and beside them knocking their suitcases into the chair. They were frightened, exhausted and confused and they were only half way to their destination. They realized they had to go through Atlanta on their way home and thought about walking, taking a bus, buying a ticket on a train or never leaving Florida.

One place Nan always wanted to do is buy a ticket on a riverboat traveling down the Mississippi River. She loved America and wanted to see the central states slowly on a paddle boat. That sounds easy enough and very doable from April through September. It never happened. She talked about it every year for forty years but something or someone altered her plans. Grandchildren were born, a family wedding, someone was ill and she had to care for them. She took care of herself but her family was more important than her dreams. Before she passed she made me promise that I would take the trip for her. I would rather go to Helsinki, Zenica, Barcelona, Addis Ababa, Warsaw but this year I am heading down the Mississippi. Eleanor passed away 10 years ago and I want all of her dreams to come true through my eyes.

It is so easy to go anywhere, do anything, try new things, treasure the excitement of adventure for some people. My grandmother never left Pennsylvania, she actually lived her entire life within 30 square miles. She was always happy because she was surrounded by her family and that was enough. We wander to learn about cultures, see the beautiful landscapes far away, curb our curiosity for knowledge. The unknown is like a magnet to develop our creativity. I met Neil deGrasse Tyson once and his search for planetary science is another realm I don't understand but I yearn for his thirst that is never quenched.

Back to America, luckily I have been to all 50 states and several territories like Tonga, Guam, Kingman Reef, and Mariana Islands. Most travelers want to drive Highway 1 from California to Washington or camp along the Appalacian Trail. We all have our dreams and desire to share them with others. 

GET OUT THERE!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Overload

 As Nan was getting a divorce from a 25 year marriage of physical, mental and verbal abuse she never dreamed things could get worse. She moved into a two bedroom apartment from a 14 room home with the two remaining children under 16. There was a little child support from her ex-husband, a $2 an hour job to meet her new commitments. The youngest child, a girl, would get dressed walk to school, then not go in to her room, she was 12. Every other day the school would call the apartment and quiz Nan on the whereabouts of her child. She was in the grasp of a pimp dealing her out for $2 a trick. Nan discovered this horrendous situation and immediately sent her to live in Seattle with her older brother, his wife and son. By this time she was 13 and pregnant. Nan paid for the abortion, scraping together extra money for medical care, food also a little something to help pay for food and lodging in Seattle. The Pimp found out where she was shipped off to and went to bring her back to his slu...
Read more

Runaway

 We headed to the Jersey shore to share a weekly rental with friends. There were 11 children in the station wagon and Nan. There were no seatbelt mandates in 1954. It was not until 1964 they were in American cars. It is 85 miles to Ocean City, New Jersey from our home. Roadside rest areas were few and far between. We played "I Spy" and other car games for the two hour drive. We pulled up to the beach at 10am and rushed with our towels to the edge of the water. Within two minutes we were all called back to the car to help carry chairs, umbrellas, snacks, drinks, floats and boards to our spot. Every child over 7 had the responsibility of attaching themselves to a child under 7.  I had it easy, Richard fell asleep in the car and was ready to play in the surf. He was 3 1/2 years old and very rarely left my side. It was two o'clock and that was time to head to the boardwalk for the afternoon ice cream cone. We held hands, avoided the sea gulls, and sang "I am a little tea...
Read more

Do It

 We are responsible for our own actions. There was no sugar coating what we needed to do to fulfill our programs we advocated for in daily activities. I chose to be a girl scout, to be a part of a group, laugh and giggle while making new friends. At home Nan gave us chores every week, she did not nag us to do them we knew that we owned it and it make her life less hectic if just gave a little help from time to time. Our girl scout troop wanted each girl to sell 50 boxes. I could have gone to my aunts, uncles, neighbors and family friends. That was the easy way out. Nan got a card table, one chair, 50 boxes of cookies and a cardboard sign with a green shamrock on it. We drove to a busy corner in the middle of downtown of our small community. She dropped me off with the table, chair, sign, cookies and $5 in quarters. In those days a box of girl scout cookies were $.75. She knew I would need change. I put on a uniform, hat and sash before I entered the car. I shouted,"Cookies, come a...
Read more