Far Away Places......With strange sounding names…are calling, calling me.....
I hadn’t thought of that song in 25 years or more, until it came haunting me during this trip. Whenever it came on The Lawrence Welk show, my Grandma cried. Once after Mom came to visit then left again she left the room…she couldn’t listen to it, but she left it on so I could. It reminded her of the fact my Mom was over the seas. It reminded her of all the places she wanted to see but never got the chance. It reminded her of her sons in the service. That song carried so much weight for her. For me…it was a mission.
I think we must have some rambling blood in our family. Most of us seem to like to travel. Maybe it’s because our earliest ancestors sailed to America. Maybe it’s because she grew up in rural Kentucky but knew so much more of the world existed. She always ALWAYS saved postcards from the road trips she and my Grand Dad took. We also had sacred mini bars of camay from hotels in the 60’s. Cups from Florida before we lived there, spoon sets from Iowa, so much stuff with so many stories! I still have many of the things and may memories of the stories. I was told I peed on President Nixon, every time I drank from one of the sacred flag cups on the iron holder.
I sit here now in Wellington New Zealand after having visited…Auckland, Rotorua, Hamilton, Cambridge Napier, Hawke’s Bay, Norsewood, Dannevirk, (and many small towns along the way, we almost made it to Whangarei and Dargaville) and planning Whanganui, Taupo, Waitomo, Coromandel…etc and many small towns along the way.
My Grandma and I listened to the song Rio by Duran Duran, she pulled out a book and showed me the Rio Grande. When Land Down Under came out we looked at the globe. I’ve waded in the Rio Grande and sung Rio whilst doing it, I’ve been to Canada several times and now I’m sitting at the tip of the North Island staring at my husband and son. I’ve played them the song that has been in my head this entire trip…it’s almost like my Grandparents came along and finally got to see some of those far away places with strange sounding names.
I am now sharing the link with you
1 comment:
Hey Vicki! Sounds like you're having a great time in New Zealand..boy, you guys have done a lot of travelling! I've never been out of North America..have fun during the rest of your holiday!
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