A Journey that Changed My Life
There is a contest on the radio that invites participants to write about a journey--a journey that changed their life to be precise.
Now not being anyone who has travelled much, often, or recently it seemed to me, at first flush, that this contest was way beyond my life experience non fictionally or even fictionally for that matter.
I thought of writing about the day that I followed the cat around the countryside forcing my mother and several neighbours to start considering cutting down 100 acres of barley thinking that my four year old little lost body was sleeping somewhere in the middle.
By the way, I learned that cats do catch quite a few mice daily ...but as I couldn't count as yet I have no accurate calculation of just how many.
I thought of discussing the day that I journeyed to my grandmother's house on my tricycle over 2 1/2 miles of dirt country road. I learned that the next time I did that I would be in quite a bit of trouble if I didn't tell my mom first. I also learned thanks again to my mom that one must drive on a certain side of the road as indicated by the pink ribbon that was permanently tied to the right? hand side of the handlebars.
Another journey that comes to mind is the day that my older sister and I, while riding double bareback on our favourite horse across pastures and unbroken fields to the nearest country school, fell off. I started falling first and then due to my 'hanging on' to my sister, her following. As a consequence, both of us were late for school as walking with horse on the rein is not nearly as efficient transportation wise as riding the horse.
The lesson learned from this journey came from Dear Sis which was quite well impressed upon me for all time and it sort of following the philosophy of Let Go and Let God...especially if you feel you are falling.
Then it occurred to me that I did visit the British Isles about 45 years ago and that perhaps I did have a bona fide journey to recount.
I did fly to the Bahamas that following Christmas and I did fly to California within the same twelve months.
I traveled alone for the most part.
I planned the trips by myself in that I purchased the tickets, decided when, where, and the how of getting to and from the airport, made necessary hotel arrangements through a travel agent and purchased the necessary (in those days ) Traveller's Cheques and filled out copious passport forms.
I figured out how to use various currencies, ask for directions usually more than once due to not understanding accents and different terminology, and to finally figure out how to use the London Underground without getting too lost, trapped, or 'falling in front of the 'bloody train'' by watching others and reading the coloured signs.
I learned that getting food poisoning in a foreign country really makes you appreciate your mother more and that no matter how much you wish you were home you have to make the best of the situation regardless of how many times your bodily functions betray your youth and health.
I also learned literally that if you do "Let Go" and fall off a horse (rented) you have to get up and climb back on and ride it back to the Office because walking back with a crushed knee would have been more painful than efficient in light of the heat and terrain that would have to be crossed.
Yes, I journeyed a lot that year. I met many many different people from all over the world--Australia, South Africa, Germans, Americans, Great Britain, and Holland.
I learned to cope with a varied cross section of cultural norms and 'misnorms'. The women who washed 'all over' in the public washrooms, the dangerously overcrowded nightclubs with only one exit, the humble but adequate housing of the regular Briton, and the children selling Conch shells to tourists are just a few.
Did my journeys of that year change me in any ways that were important? Did they affect my future life choices, change what I value in life or make me a better person in any way?
I like to think so.
I learned that North American culture is not necessarily the be all and end all. I learned that there are many people who are very happy and content with living with less than what would be a standard fare here in Canada.
I learned that in general people just want to get along the best they can by taking joy where they can find it, lend a hand to a stranger when they are asked, and live in peace as much as possible.
I also learned that one should never--ever--drink the cordial made from horse trough water-- no matter how tasty it looks or how thirsty you are.
There is a contest on the radio that invites participants to write about a journey--a journey that changed their life to be precise.
Now not being anyone who has travelled much, often, or recently it seemed to me, at first flush, that this contest was way beyond my life experience non fictionally or even fictionally for that matter.
I thought of writing about the day that I followed the cat around the countryside forcing my mother and several neighbours to start considering cutting down 100 acres of barley thinking that my four year old little lost body was sleeping somewhere in the middle.
By the way, I learned that cats do catch quite a few mice daily ...but as I couldn't count as yet I have no accurate calculation of just how many.
I thought of discussing the day that I journeyed to my grandmother's house on my tricycle over 2 1/2 miles of dirt country road. I learned that the next time I did that I would be in quite a bit of trouble if I didn't tell my mom first. I also learned thanks again to my mom that one must drive on a certain side of the road as indicated by the pink ribbon that was permanently tied to the right? hand side of the handlebars.
Another journey that comes to mind is the day that my older sister and I, while riding double bareback on our favourite horse across pastures and unbroken fields to the nearest country school, fell off. I started falling first and then due to my 'hanging on' to my sister, her following. As a consequence, both of us were late for school as walking with horse on the rein is not nearly as efficient transportation wise as riding the horse.
The lesson learned from this journey came from Dear Sis which was quite well impressed upon me for all time and it sort of following the philosophy of Let Go and Let God...especially if you feel you are falling.
Then it occurred to me that I did visit the British Isles about 45 years ago and that perhaps I did have a bona fide journey to recount.
I did fly to the Bahamas that following Christmas and I did fly to California within the same twelve months.
I traveled alone for the most part.
I planned the trips by myself in that I purchased the tickets, decided when, where, and the how of getting to and from the airport, made necessary hotel arrangements through a travel agent and purchased the necessary (in those days ) Traveller's Cheques and filled out copious passport forms.
I figured out how to use various currencies, ask for directions usually more than once due to not understanding accents and different terminology, and to finally figure out how to use the London Underground without getting too lost, trapped, or 'falling in front of the 'bloody train'' by watching others and reading the coloured signs.
I learned that getting food poisoning in a foreign country really makes you appreciate your mother more and that no matter how much you wish you were home you have to make the best of the situation regardless of how many times your bodily functions betray your youth and health.
I also learned literally that if you do "Let Go" and fall off a horse (rented) you have to get up and climb back on and ride it back to the Office because walking back with a crushed knee would have been more painful than efficient in light of the heat and terrain that would have to be crossed.
Yes, I journeyed a lot that year. I met many many different people from all over the world--Australia, South Africa, Germans, Americans, Great Britain, and Holland.
I learned to cope with a varied cross section of cultural norms and 'misnorms'. The women who washed 'all over' in the public washrooms, the dangerously overcrowded nightclubs with only one exit, the humble but adequate housing of the regular Briton, and the children selling Conch shells to tourists are just a few.
Did my journeys of that year change me in any ways that were important? Did they affect my future life choices, change what I value in life or make me a better person in any way?
I like to think so.
I learned that North American culture is not necessarily the be all and end all. I learned that there are many people who are very happy and content with living with less than what would be a standard fare here in Canada.
I learned that in general people just want to get along the best they can by taking joy where they can find it, lend a hand to a stranger when they are asked, and live in peace as much as possible.
I also learned that one should never--ever--drink the cordial made from horse trough water-- no matter how tasty it looks or how thirsty you are.
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