Two and a half years ago, our son, Alex came up with an idea after hearing my Mom tell him that her favorite Aunt was turning one hundred and her daughters, my Mom’s three cousins, were having a celebration for her. Alex thought it would be a great idea as a Birthday/Christmas Gift that year for my Mom from the family.
Photos from our trip to take my Mom to her Aunt’s 100th Birthday Party in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Top two photos the serving table of beverages, my Mom visiting with her Aunt Doris. Bottom row left, my Mom and her “City cousins. Great idea Alex. Bottom left photo was a stop to see my Mom’s youngest sister, Marty (back row, hot pink top, third from the left, Marty’s son and his family, around her and Alex. My niece Sophia came along, my cousin, Kristi to the left of me, second row, right. My Mom in front.
We we wrapped up a card in a box explaining the idea of the gift with the plans that in April, we would travel to Rock Hill South Carolina for a weekend for her Aunt Doris’s 100th Birthday. What was great was, leading up to the trip, in those four months, my Mom would share with us, stories about her trips as a child to visit her cousins, “in the city” of Rock Hill, South Carolina. My Mom’s family had a farm just over the border into North Carolina. The cousins would visit each other for a week every summer. My Mom enjoyed visiting Aunt Doris and Uncle Whalen’s home, it was on a block in the little town. Uncle Whalen was a sailor in World War II and then came home to open a dental lab. Aunt Doris took pride in her home and enjoyed cooking and baking. The girls would play house in their little play house in they backyard and cook and bake with Aunt Doris. After dinner, Uncle Whalen would tell them about the places he traveled to during the war. They would walk to the little store a couple blocks away to buy penny candy. My Mom felt that it was such a treat, and break from the work of the farm to get to go see Brenda, Jeanie and Cecelia. When we were at the Birthday Party in April, we heard the cousins’ version of the experience at the Autry farm in Monroe, North Carolina. The cousins told about how they liked running around the farm, seeing all the animals, having my grandfather, their Uncle Jessie driving them on the tractor, swimming in the pond and my grandmother’s cornbread. Each set of cousins felt that the other had the best living situation. The travel gift for my Mom was a complete success-great idea Alex. She had a chance to see her cousins and favorite Aunt and talk about the fun they had as children visiting one another.
The book i was reading as a child, another version and the original Aesop’s Fable.
As a child, my Mom would tell us about her visits growing up. My Mom moved to Michigan shortly after she graduated from high school, eventually meeting my Dad and got married. She rarely saw her cousins, aunt and uncle, but they kept in touch through letters and phone calls. I remember when my second grade teacher read the book to us The City Mouse and Country Mouse. It reminded me of the stories my Mom would tell me. The story originated as one of Aesop’s Fables. The original story has two cousins with contrasting circumstances. One lives a life of luxury in the city the other lives a simple quiet life in the country. Each thinks the other has the better life, however, the country mouse discovers that the dangers of cats, dogs and people take the fun out of experience and maybe the simple life isn’t too bad after all.
Fans from other countries have traveled to the U.S. for the World Cup.
Over the last week, we’ve the television and social media coverage of the visitors in the United States for the World Cup Soccer. For example, Scottish fans chartered a boat it was fun to see their entrance into the harbor in Boston. Japanese fans helped clean up the stadium following their team’s game-it’s customary in their country to do this. Several fans at different venues have posted clips or have been interviewed by different news organizations and it’s interesting to see their observations and excitement to be in the U.S. One fan remarked about the beauty of the parks and monuments and how he has enjoyed photographing these places and sites, new to him. Other fans remarked about the availability of goods, namely at Walmart and Costco and large portions at restaurants. Some remarked about the All American concepts like the American Cowboy, California Girls, Rock and Roll, and Ranch Dressing-yes, they are taking it home in their bags, “checked bags,” , TSA reminds them. Many remarked about the wide open spaces, the large showers in the hotels and the availability of food and goods. Reflecting on these comments and thoughts, I don’t think about these ideas until we travel to a different country and experience it first hand myself; like the tiny showers in European hotels, small portions, places closed on Sundays among other differences…
Many Americans love traveling to Europe to see the sites.
Over the last few decades, it has become ‘popular’ for many Americans to bash America or point out all of our faults compared to other countries. Of course, they have a right to speak their mind and express their opinions. Some of this language may be out of complete ignorance, lack of traveling to other countries or not reading or knowing history or what goes on around the world. Some who do travel, come back and say how glorious it is to see ancient or historic sites, cobble stone streets, travel to unique places and that is the benefit of travel, to see foreign places and locations where monumental events happened. Like the Country Mouse, we are fascinated to see places and things were have never seen or experienced in the brief time we are there, it may seem better or more quaint than our new neighborhood and home with central air and stable and controlled heating. However, when taking a closer look, would we really want to live there? Would we want the cramped living space, high prices, old buildings, pushing the big stroller down tiny cobblestone sidewalks, limited resources when we are used to having what we have?
Interestingly, the foreign travelers may find that they feel the same. The juicy burgers, trips to Walmart, wide open spaces and availability of products may be appealing to them initially. Like the Country Mouse, the shiny objects and ‘stuff’ may be attractive, just as we may find their country ‘better than where we come from,” but it is not home, not where their family or customs are and before long, they too may realize that home isn’t all that bad…
My observation is that deep down, all of us might feel that “there’s no place like home,” where ever we make our home. We may travel here or there and say, “wow, they do that so much better than us, it’s so much better here,” and for a while we may feel that way, but then we miss our home, OUR way of doing things. To travel is an eye opening opportunity. Whether for work or for pleasure, when one travels they have an opportunity to observe how others live and manage. It gives us a chance to see and open our eyes to how big the world is. In addition to “seeing things” it can show us that there are many ways to live one’s life and do those things that make up one’s years here on earth. It can also show us ‘how good we have it’. We also can learn that ‘everyone brings something to the party.’
In the weeks prior to our country’s 250th Birthday it’s fun to see our country through the lens of foreigners. They notice the everyday things we forget about about or over look. It’s interesting to see what grabs their attention-who would have thought Ranch dressing? Maybe it will make for some Greater Days.
