Gone but Not Forgotten

A family saying got started when my Poppi (a North Carolinian nickname for “grandpa”) told us about a trip to the small graveyard where a couple dozen of our ancestors are buried. He read the different epitaphs as he walked along, but paused when he came to his grandmother’s gravestone. Inscribed above her date of birth and death were only these words: “She did the best she could.”

So much of our lives are focused on outcomes. You found a good spouse. You had a good job. Your kids turned out all right. You ran a successful business. You had a nice retirement. Everyone has an outcome that they focus on, anything from getting married to making it as a musician. Goals are good, as I am the first to emphasize. But sometimes, like today, I think of my great-great-grandmother’s epitaph, and I remind myself that life isn’t all about outcomes. No matter the successes or failures, I think it’s a high honor to deserve the words, “She did the best she could.”

Émon's poem

I’ve mentioned Émon briefly before— he was the main character of the novel I started when I was 14 and worked on for about five years. It was the novel that taught me how to write, how to consider ideas that weren’t my own, and how to stick with a project even though it might never see the light of day.

Last year on tour in Illinois, I sat under a tree as evening fell on the festivities of Mamma Linda’s Hog Roast, and by the light of my iPod I read forty pages of Annie Dillard’s Teaching a Stone to Talk. I felt quiet and restless afterward, and took a walk along the road under the stars. When I returned, I pulled out my diary and jotted down this poem in light so dim that I couldn’t see my handwriting. This is what I wrote.

She never thinks of you anymore, Émon.

Yes, she does.

I lie forgotten, rubbing sides with lint in the pocket corners of her brain.

I was never a character,

any more than a random jumble of black and white ink;

but I was real.

Real as the teenage fear that is mistaken for innocence, 

depravity cloaked and choked,

silly fears, a startled glance over her shoulder at each patter and ripple of the cornrows.

Wandering the black corridor of maize

after reading sixty pages of Annie Dillard, in the curved light

of an almost full moon, she listens, she feels the air of cool breezes pressing against her sticky skin, the sky pallid and dark, the corn alight with fireflies, her heart surging small pulses into her stomach—

and she thinks of me.

This thirst, this glowing glimmer of fascination,

leads her to monolith gravestones of a man named E.H. Bacon born 1827 died 1904.

It leans like Pisa and she tilts her head,

and she thinks of me.

I am the memory of unthinkable cruelty, a creation of love, a working of waking that blossomed her mind into consciousness. She woke up with me, and with forgetful purpose she pursued this vein of a trail,

blood-vessel complexity of paths,

choosing when, where, how, who, but not realizing they were chosen for her.

I am her solace,

Her mind-mate,

The pain and the confidant of a teen with a will to write.

I wait, patiently.

I keep to the edges of her ideas, coaxing.

She never writes me anymore

But I am never far away.

~~~

Travel Tip Tuesdays: Seven Random Travel Photography Tips

Photography isn’t my strongest suit, but it’s a lot of fun to take pictures when I’m traveling, and they are an essential part of my blog. Here are seven random things I’ve learned in my years of amateur travel photography.

1. Before you hit the road, practice one-handed portraits of yourself. Holding out the camera to get a photo of yourself (or a group photo) takes practice. If you learn how to do it beforehand, you’ll save yourself a lot of pictures in which you and/or the scenery is not in the frame.

That way, you can control who's in the shot, if not what they're doing. (These are my siblings, by the way.)

2. Photos of people are more interesting than photos of places. You’ve probably heard this before, and it’s true. Plus, you want to have proof that you were at all these amazing places.

If you can take a photo of both a hot guy and an amazing place at the same time, that's even better. (Salt flats, Utah)

3. On the other hand, scenic photos make great desktop backgrounds. I love my pictures of the Columbia Gorge, Atlantic ocean, cathedrals of Europe, and Grand Canyon. Scenic photos are a great way of blowing your mind when you realize all the cool places you’ve been.

Outside San Luis Obispo, California. I'm still amazed at how scenic it was.

4. Unless you’ve actually studied how to do it, don’t take pictures of wild animals. I can’t tell you how many shots I’ve wasted trying to capture a shot of the dolphins leaping next to our sailboat, the elk grazing out in the field, or the bald eagle perched in the tree. Animals move quickly and are often out of range. You end up frustrated about your photography, and missing out on actually seeing the animals. 

See this? This is what you shouldn't do.

5. When taking a photo of a well-known place, find a different angle on it. You can get a postcard of the Space Needle that looks much better than that photo you just took, so go for creativity.

I like this photo.

6. Make different faces in different photos. It’s boring to see fifty shots of yourself wearing the exact same expression. Change it up, even if that means smiling in a different way than usual.

My sister Mary is really good at that.

7. Don’t view your entire trip through a camera lens. Photos are great, but please don’t be that person who is always pausing the action to take pictures of everything. Don’t stare through your viewfinder at the fireworks— put the camera away, lay back, and actually watch them.

As a bonus, here is a link to some sage advice from Julian Smith.

~~~

A Trip to the Grocery Store

Zach’s car was still stuck in a mound of slushy ice four blocks from our house, but we still wanted to go grocery shopping. My projected dinner recipe involved hot sauce, milk, and blue cheese dressing, none of which were in our pantry. I looked out the window. Under the street lamps, the skim of ice over four inches of snow glittered like frosted glass. Aldi lay a mere 0.7 miles away, with a huge open field, connected to a cemetery, in between. 

Zach and I donned our coats, grabbed backpacks, and ventured out into the freezing air. I borrowed Zach’s hat, which buttoned under my chin. It kept my ears warm, blocked my peripheral vision and slipped down over my eyes. We strolled down the street, then took a footpath toward the cemetery, our feet crunching loudly with each step in the snow. 

The moon was almost full that night. Between it and the floodlights from the parking lot up the hill, the open field shone a soft bluish white. I glanced this scene between pushing up my hat and slipping with each step, breath steaming, body beginning to sweat. My Achilles tendons began to ache with our slow progress.

At last we crossed the field and speed-walked over the asphalt, slowing down to tread carefully over black ice. We grabbed a cart, did our shopping, packed our food into backpacks, and repeated the longer-than-usual trek over the snowy field. 

Back in the house, we stamped our shoes, stripped off our coats and sweaters, patted down our hat hair, and divided our loot between the fridge and the cupboards.

That night, I made homemade buffalo wings, following this recipe. They were delicious.

~~~

Red Rocks, Colorado

12 Amazing Cities I've Visited, Part Three

Here is the conclusion of the matter (a continuation, as you may have guessed, from Part One and Part Two). Since the cities I’ve visited most recently are all in Europe, you’ll find a lack of American cities in this final four. Here they are!

4. Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Rijksmuseum alone would be enough to put this city in my top 12. It was my introduction to Europe, showing me that the painstakingly-crafted historic-looking cities in the US are copies of the real thing on the other side of the Atlantic. With scenic canals, amazing museums, and a vibrant cultural life, Amsterdam is more than worth the visit. (Hostel recommendation: Shelter City proved to be safe, clean, and friendly at a bargain price— well, bargain for Amsterdam.)

3. Hamburg, Germany. The thing that impressed me about this city was the care and craftsmanship that seemed to go into every building. From the sweeping harbor views to the tucked-away cottages, this city is both grand and charming. Take a ride on the ferry for the best views of the city and harbor.

2. Nuremberg, Germany. I can’t even explain how much this city impressed and fascinated me. It is magnificent on every scale, and from the medieval castle to St. Lorenzkirche to the house of Albrecht Dürer, there is plenty to see. The city tour, along with a tour of the castle, was more than worth the euros I spent (find English-speaking tours at the nearest Tourist Information office). Be sure to try some Lebkuchen (gingerbread) and Nürnberg sausages while you’re there.

1. Salzburg, Austria. I look back on the photos I took of this city and just gape. This is a city on an epic, but distinctly European, scale. The winding streets give way to huge courtyards, massive churches, and other buildings of remarkable beauty. The whole city climbs up a hill (read: mountain), on top of which perches a castle straight out of a fairy-tale. And if that wasn’t good enough, a mildly challenging hike from the city center takes you to views of the Alps that will blow your mind. If you are ever remotely near this city, take the time to spend at least a day.

What are your favorite cities? Which should I absolutely visit before I die?

~~~

12 Amazing Cities I've Visited, Part Two

And now, the follow-up you’ve all been waiting for! (Here’s Part One, if you missed it. Remember, I’m going in order of sequence, not favor.)

8. Sacramento, California. Take a step back into the Gold Rush era in Sacramento’s historic district, then stroll to a few blocks away to the heart of the city for a tour of the capitol building. It’s full of historic buildings, tourist activities, and cute local restaurants and stores. Plus, the downtown’s streets are laid out on a number-and-letter grid, which makes it easy to find your way around. (Hostel recommendation: Sacramento Downtown HI Hostel is a dazzling Victorian mansion, fully restored. Plus it’s a great location.)

7. Portland, Oregon. I’m not going to lie: Portland freaks me out a bit (I’ve blogged about this before). That said, Powell’s Books is enough to make this city any bibliophile’s favorite, and some of the most amazing memories of my life involve eating Voodoo Donuts in Portland’s downtown. The best part of this city, however, is Forest Park. It contains over 5,000 acres of pure Oregon woodland— which is, as any native could tell you, some of the most beautiful countryside in the world. (Also check out the Rose Garden.)

6. Tucson, Arizona. Speaking of cities that freaked me out, Tucson is high on the list. It stands in the middle of a desert and has an eerie, arid feel to it. I can’t say I actually liked Tucson that much, but I was fascinated and drawn in by it. Sometimes it pretends to be a normal city, but it’s most beautiful when it embraces the nature of the desert with thick adobe walls and bright Southwestern colors. And it has the DeGrazia Gallery, which is still the most beautiful art gallery I’ve ever seen.

5. Denver, Colorado. I debated between this and Oklahoma City, but Denver won out because I spent more time there. (Sorry, OK City— you’re still fantastic!) Some people might call Denver a generic city, but I prefer the term “well balanced:” it has a mix of tourist districts, nice apartments, bookstores, walking paths and attractions, with a spattering of urban art in between. The best part, though, is its location: you can walk just a few miles out of town and find yourself scaling the (very tall) foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

Tomorrow… the conclusion of the series (otherwise known as “the European City Blog”)!

~~~

12 Amazing Cities I've Visited, Part One

“All cities are alike.” I have heard this from countless nomads and frequent travelers, people who spend months on the road or city-hop every other day. After a while, they say, all the cities start to blur together. 

Since I haven’t traveled as much as some people I know, I’ve been spared that jadedness. While many cities (and practically all suburbs) are generic, several of them still stand out in my mind as amazing, and unique, places. Hence, I’m creating this list.

Although I’ve often been referred to as “the world traveler” among my acquaintances, my travels have not been that extensive. While I have spent considerable time on the road the past three years, I keep on returning to the same places— namely the west coast. Bear that in mind as you read my list of 12 of my favorite cities. For instance, I’ve never been to any of the New England cities, and I haven’t visited Chicago or Atlanta for long enough to pass judgement. To avoid driving myself crazy with the order, I’m arranging them by date I visited them as a traveler, from oldest to most recent. Here goes.

12. St. Louis, Missouri. No, this isn’t cheating! Although I tell outsiders that I’m “from St. Louis,” I actually live in a separate county, so it still counts as “visiting.” It really is an amazing town. I love it for the turn-of-the-century architecture, City Museum, Forest Park, and the ridiculous amounts of free stuff (I’ve blogged about the Zoo, but the Art Museum is fantastic, too). 

11. Seattle, Washington. I fell in love with this sound-side city the moment I stepped off the plane. Breezy and glassy, it’s one of my favorite places on earth. The Pike Place Market, Space Needle, and ferry system are all worth checking out, but my favorite thing to do is just walk around the city, gawk at the architecture, chill in the library, or take a hike down the waterfront. (Hostel recommendation: The Green Tortoise is great.)

10. San Francisco, California. For all my fangirl-love of Seattle, cities really don’t get much better than San Fran. With pristine buildings, a ridiculously scenic coastline, dozens of fascinating sights around the city, and, of course, the Golden Gate Bridge, it’s a place you could stay for a week and never think of getting bored. (Hostel recommendation: Fisherman’s Wharf HI Hostel has a great location for a reasonable price.)

9. San Diego, California. Imagine a small laid-back beach town full of surfers, fishermen, and wealthy people with oceanfront homes. Turn it into a city, and that’s San Diego. This town boasts great weather and beautiful flowers all years long. Different parts of the area have different feels, from the surfer-hipster district of Ocean Beach to the wealthy golden-sand tourist trap of Coronado Island. With tidepools, great restaurants, Balboa Park, and a swingin’ downtown, this city is a place that my sister is happy to call home. (Hostel recommendation: Point Loma HI Hostel doesn’t have the best location, but it’s one of the nicest and friendliest hostels I’ve ever visited.)

Part Two of Three is coming tomorrow!

~~~

The Difference a Desk Makes

Today, my husband moved my writing desk from our spare room (sometimes called the Tent Room because our tent is set up in there, or the Refrigerator Room because we cut off the heat in there to save on our energy bill) into our bedroom. My dad made me this desk, as a high school graduation present if I recall correctly. It’s a honey-colored quarter-circle that fits neatly into a corner. He made me a little bookshelf to go along with it: its sloping sides resemble the shape of two violins. Now I’m sitting in the corner of my (much-warmer-than-downstairs) bedroom, looking out the window at the sunset.

For some reason, the simple transfer of a piece of furniture made me feel more moved-in to this house than I have felt in months. In a fit of housewifery, I measured the windows and made notes about what kind of curtains I’m going to make. I have books on an actual shelf, a chair at my desk, and a happiness that is warming my toes.

I’m off to make supper and try out my mom’s salmon patties recipe, which I adored as a kid. But I’ll return soon enough to my desk, as I nest more and more in this lovely little house of mine.

~~~

Travel Tip Tuesdays: Seven Helpful Travel Foods

Splurging on food is always fun on a trip, but it’s really helpful to have some extra food on hand for snacks, side dishes, and the occasional meal. Here are seven foods that have served me well on my travels:

Me eating a Clif bar at the Golden Gate
Bridge. TOTALLY an unposed shot.

Clif bars. Yes, they’re a bit expensive, but I swear by these suckers. The peanut butter flavor is my favorite. I ate nothing but Clif bars my first three days in Europe and managed to keep myself alive before I could get over jet-lag enough to eat real food.

Trail mix. This is obvious to anyone who’s traveled: nuts and fruit (and sometimes chocolate) are the best staples on the road. Try almonds and craisins, cashews and coconut, or honey-roasted peanuts and peanut m&ms.

Kale. A handful of kale gives you over 100% of your daily dose of Vitamin A and almost 70% of Vitamin C. It’s hearty for a leafy green, so you can squash it into your bag and keep it at room temperature for several hours and barely see it wilt at all. It doesn’t taste great, but it’s worth a minute of chewing and swallowing to get more nutrition than you could from downing ten heads of iceberg lettuce.

Snickers. Speaking of nutrition, Snickers are… well, not healthy. But they give you energy, have about the same amount of fat and sugar as most “healthy” energy bars, and are a lot cheaper. Plus they don’t shatter in your pack like granola bars (although they do have a tendency to melt).

Peanut butter. A small jar of no-stir peanut butter is your friend. You can spread this stuff on bread or fruit, mix it with ramen, or eat it right out of the jar. If you only take one carry-on bag when you travel, this is something to buy at your destination in case the TSA decides that it counts as a liquid.

Apples. These fruits don’t spoil quickly, can be stored at most any temperature, and deal well with being jostled around in your backpack.

Instant oatmeal. Bring a mug with you and just add hot water (available for free at gas stations and many other places) for a small but satisfying meal.

What are your favorite travel foods?

~~~

Have a travel question? Leave a comment and I’ll answer!

Travel Quote of the Day

"Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering." ~Augustine

Sunday Photo

DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, Tucson, Arizona. I love the way the landscape inspires the building style.

Five Ways Travel Is Beneficial to Your Writing… and Three Ways It's Not

For me, writing isn’t so much a career, or even a dream, as it is a way of life. I interpret nearly everything through words and stories, and have for as long as I can remember. As a kid, after a trip to visit my grandparents in Illinois, or my other grandparents in North Carolina, I found that the stories I made up had greater flair, better settings, and more interesting characters. For anyone who writes (or creates art of any kind), here are five ways that travel can give you a boost:

The change of scenery makes you more aware of details. When I travel, I do a lot of the same things I do at home, but they have a whole new light when I’m in another state. Washing dishes, taking a walk or even reading a book take on new significance, prompting me to see them in a different way.

You get to explore new settings. From the moss-soaked forests of the Northwest to the Medieval cities of Germany, the settings I’ve experienced have brought my imagination to life. Every place you go has a new story to tell.

You gain life experience. Thanks to my travels, I know how to grow an organic garden, raise chickens and goats, stay safe in a city, and meet new people. I’ve experienced so many different things that float in the back of my mind, waiting to be transferred to paper, from bike-riding in the Netherlands to hiking in the Everglades. These experiences have helped shape who I am, and therefore how I write.

I do spend a lot of time on my computer when I'm on
the road… but that's because tutoring is my day job.

You refresh yourself. Everyone feels burnt out sometimes, and traveling is one of the best ways to help you renew your energy and focus. With the right attitude, you can return from a trip readier than ever to tackle your writing process.

You meet people who change your perspective. This is my favorite part of travel, and it has made my writing so much richer. Through my travels, I’ve met and spent time with anarchists, social evolutionists, hippies, street preachers, pot-smokers, conspiracy theorists, Mormons, world travelers, organic farmers, seafaring hippies, members of the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement, and many more. Each one of them has challenged and deepened my understanding of the world, giving me a well of experience to draw from.

On the other hand, though, travel is not a magic wand that instantly makes you able to write. In fact, when I’m on the road, my blog is the only writing I can ever manage to get done. Here are three reasons it’s better to write from home:

When you travel, you should be focusing on experience rather than writing. Whether or not you’re crunched for time, you should try to make the most of your trip. Why spend all the time and money to travel somewhere new, and then spend the whole time staring at words on your computer? Chop wood, volunteer, take a beach walk, visit a museum, share a meal, meet new people… and do the bulk of your writing when you get home.

99% of the time, the greatest trials you have to face are at home. I hiked the Angel’s Landing trail in Zion Canyon, with narrow and uncertain footing and a thousand-foot drop on each side— was this the biggest challenge I’ve ever faced? Certainly not. You know what was? When my mom was going on week four in the hospital with an unknown surgery complication that nearly took her life, I opened my eyes each morning, and then I got up. That was exponentially harder. Trips stretch you and open your mind, but it’s the nonstop trials and grief of everyday life that build wisdom.

If you don’t write now, taking a trip will not help you write. “Someday,” people say with a dreamy-eyed expression, “I’m going to go take a few months and just live in a cabin and write my novel.” That’s the kiss of death. If you aren’t writing a novel right now, you’re not going to no matter how inspiring your destination is. The routine of everyday life is the best place for art to flourish, rather than a solitary, out-of-the-ordinary existence where all you can do is sit and try to think deep thoughts. 

In short, if you can take a trip, use it to enrich your life. If you can’t, don’t use that lack of experience as an excuse not to write. As with most things, you need balance. To me, travel is all about experience— this is essential to writing, but a trip is not the only way to find it.

~~~

Valentine's Day

It’s my first Valentine’s Day as a wife! I don’t know what today will bring, but as long as I get to spend it with my husband, I’ll be happy.

He took me ice-skating last year!

Ash Wednesday

Lent is an ancient church observance, like Advent, starting 40 days before Easter on a day known as Ash Wednesday. Some people observe Lent, some have never heard of Lent, and some write it off as “a Catholic thing.” As a Protestant and observer of Lent, I encourage every Christian who hasn’t observed Ash Wednesday before to take a second look. 

Lent is a time of quieting your heart, reflecting on the realities of death and suffering, intentionally doing good, and giving up something that you will miss strongly enough that it’s never far from your thoughts. In a culture of consumerism, we’re not used to giving up anything (it’s one of my biggest struggles), so intentionally depriving ourselves of a luxury and filling ourselves with prayer and God’s word is a harder discipline than I’d like to admit.

I’ll tell you what, though, nothing focuses your thoughts like praying every time you think about chocolate, Facebook, video games, snack food, or whatever you’ve chosen to give up. And this small sacrifice reminds us of where our focus should be constantly, no matter what time of the year.

Travel Tip Tuesdays: How to Find People to Help You on the Road

There’s no way I could have traveled as extensively as I have without a ton of help. Something that has surprised me most over the years is how incredibly generous people can be. From taking me to sightseeing in Utah to buying me a train ticket, family, friends and strangers have showed me kindness that I could never hope to repay. 

My second cousin Nichole took me to see Red Rocks
Amphitheater near her home in Denver, Colorado.

Asking for help requires humility, a sensitivity to other people, and a readiness to take whatever the experience throws at you. In each of these suggestions, think about what you can give to the people who help you, even if it’s just the gift of gratitude and making beautiful memories together. 

Post on your Facebook wall. A few days before spring break one year, I posted on Facebook, “Spring break is coming up. Where should I travel?” I got two different invitations to far-off locations by friends I hardly knew.

Join couchsurfing. Yes, yes, I know I harp on this a lot. But it really is one of the best ways to find travel help! I’ve saved hundreds of dollars thanks to this community.

Find some distant relatives. This depends on your family, of course. Still, I was surprised at the number of relatives who came out of the woodwork when I needed help on the road. I owe a lot of my travel experiences to my uncle (Germany) and a few different second cousins and first-cousins-once-removed (Colorado and Arizona).

Not only did I get to experience the stark beauty of
Wyoming, but the kids I babysat were darn cute.

Ask around about help exchange. I used volunteer programs to find most of my opportunities, but friends and relatives in other towns are often looking for a tutor or babysitter. A note from a former coworker took me to Wyoming to see the sights in between babysitting his kids.

Keep your eyes open. Opportunities are everywhere, so don’t write anything off. I usually felt uncomfortable with my friends trying to find me places to stay, but the week in the Netherlands, courtesy of my future grandmother-in-law’s neighbor’s friends, proved that a wonderful situation can blossom in the most unexpected places.

Now that I have a little house of my own, I’ve been thinking about the ways I can help other people on their travels. Generosity, like any of the virtues, is deeply inspiring. Who will you be generous to today?

~~~

On Sin and Sickness

A few days ago, I woke up feeling (in my dad’s Iowa-farmer lexicon) “like I’d been drug through a plowed field.” I didn’t feel sick, just exhausted— the kind of tiredness you feel just before crashing at the end of the day. I forced myself up to see my husband off to work, but all morning I fought with fits of anxiety and weepiness bordering on panic. Around noon I read my Bible in bed for a while, and then the next thing I remember was waking up three hours later. 

That’s when I realized: “Wait, I never take naps during the day. Huh. I really am sick.” This was a huge relief— if I was going to feel that awful, I had better be sick!

Although the theology of original sin is something I’ve grown up with, it’s good to remember every once in a while what a freeing doctrine it is. People who take a good look at themselves— all the meanness and jealousy and selfishness and bitterness and pride— should be relieved to know that they are not “basically good.” If people are going to be this awful, we had better be sick!

So after my nap, I took it easy, and got plenty of rest, and remembered that the day is coming when sin and sickness will be banished— along with all the awfulness that comes in tow.

~~~

A Photo for Sunday

Usually I don’t blog on Sundays. However, today I decided that every Sunday, I’m going to post a photo that I’ve taken, to remind us of the amazing world God has given to us. Enjoy.

Southwestern Wyoming

Our Founding Fathers and Yosemite Sam

Over the past few days, I’ve been reading Made in America: An Informal History of the English Language in the United States. While some of you might start snoozing before finishing the title, it’s much more interesting than you think because the author is Bill Bryson. Well-known for a variety of books, including A Walk in the Woods, The Lost Continent, and A Short History of Nearly Everything, Bryson pulls out another sardonic, irreverent, well-researched and fascinating book.

Made in America is not simply about the language, but the people and history that shaped it. Since I haven’t studied American history in seven years, I’ve been having a blast taking this refresher course that focuses on the changes that occurred as seen through the language. Bryson is not needlessly cynical, but likes to talk about people’s flaws as much as their accomplishments. I appreciate this especially in the discussion of America’s early years, as we Americans could stand to take a more realistic view of our Founding Fathers and the Constitution, rather than idolizing them as patriarchs and scripture. 

Something that has struck me in the book is the way that fiction affects what most people believe about history— sometimes to an alarming extent. Thanks to Washington Irving’s romanticized and completely inaccurate account of Columbus’s voyage to America, a huge part of the population still thinks that people in the 1400s didn’t know the earth was round. Due to fanciful poems, made-up accounts, and hero-stories that unapologetically exaggerate, some basic concepts about the founding and growth of America get skewed. Bryson inspires me to double-check my facts and be sure they are pulled from reliable sources, not just romanticized accounts.

Although I’m not finished with the book yet, it’s already been a fun and fascinating ride. If you get the chance, check it out.

And now, will all credit to Bill Bryson, here is my favorite quote in the book so far. Here he talks about how the way that people in the 1700s spelled shows a lot about their pronunciation. Keep George Washington, Paul Revere and Patrick Henry in mind as you read this passage that blew my mind:

“…We can find find libity for liberty, patchis for purchase, ort for ought, weamin for women, through for throw, nater for nature, keer for care, jest for just, ole for old, pizen for poison, darter (or even dafter) for daughter. The pronunciations ‘chaw’ for chew, ‘varmint’ for vermin, ‘stomp’ for stamp, ‘heist’ for hoist, ‘rile’ for roil, ‘hoss’ for horse, and ‘tetchy’ for touchy were commonly, if not invariably, heard among educated speakers on both sides of the Atlantic. All of this suggests that if we wished to find a modern-day model for British and American speech of the late eighteenth century, we could probably do no better than Yosemite Sam.”

When I teach my kids the Preamble to the Constitution, I’m going to tell them to recite it in Yosemite Sam’s voice. Sound good, Zachary?

~~~

Sweeping the Floor

Sitting at a messy table in a room that smells like two-month-old Christmas tree (which stands in the corner pondering why it is still in one piece), I take a deep breath and feel happy to be home. The past ten days out west have been filled to the brim with family time— the longest concentration of hanging out that I’ve done for as long as I can remember. I’m grateful we had the time to visit almost everyone in Zach’s family without feeling too rushed.

Now I return to normal life, where the work I didn’t carry with me— laundry, dishes, freelancing, cooking, being a housewife— resumes at the pace it moved before. I believe it was Mother Teresa who said, “Do you want to be great? Pick up a broom and sweep the floor.” That’s what I’m going to go do now.

~~~

Why I Love Southwest Airlines

On Zach’s and my flight from St. Louis to Portland, the flight steward gave everyone on the plane a worksheet of visual puzzles to solve. A few minutes later he came through and listened to everyone’s answers. Then, we all got prizes! I chose crackers, but Zachary got a bat ring and gave it to me.

As we got ready to land, the same steward sang instructions about landing procedure to the tune of “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain When She Comes.” Is it any wonder that I love Southwest?

Where to Go: SkiBowl, Mount Hood, Oregon

Last Saturday, Zach and my sister-in-law and father-in-law (the novelty of this statement still makes me feel all bubbly inside) and I left an unseasonably sunny Portland in the morning and set out for Mount Hood. This was my first time visiting a snow-capped mountain, and as the picturesque peak drew closer I got more and more excited. We had one thing on our mind: sledding!

After driving over slushy roads between walls of two to eight-foot deep snow on either side, we arrived at the Mount Hood SkiBowl, an area where you can rent inner tubes and sled to your heart’s content. Armed with three-hour passes, Zach, Ivy and I were determined to make every minute count.

Sledding at SkiBowl made me relive those wonderful moments of childhood, from death-defying drops to airborne leaps to bailout and collisions and giggling and burning legs and shoes slipping on ice as you scramble to reach the top of the hill again. That said, SkiBowl employees monitor the sledding and you are assigned lanes, so it’s more like an amusement park than anything else. There are also two (sometimes three) levels of sledding, from mild slopes to more exciting plunges.

Why you should go: Sledding is awesome. Sledding with a stunning snowy mountain peak to keep you company is even better.

How to get there: Here is the direction page.

What to bring: Money ($25 for a three-hour pass), warm and waterproof clothes, shoes with good grips.

What else you need to know: You have to be in good shape to do this right, and like any good sledding experience, it will leave you sore. Two days later, my arms are still killing me from dragging my inner tube up the slope a thousand times. This makes me happy.