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When I retired three and a half years ago, husband Niks and I set off together on trips across the country. We've toured so many wonderful places and as you can see we have been everywhere except North Dakota. (We've been everywhere that is RED on the map above.) I couldn't think of anything to see in N.D., and I didn't want to go there just to say I had "been there." But after we came back from Mt. Rushmore, etc., friends told us that we should have gone to N.D. to see the birthplace of Lawrence Welk. Oh, gee, I am SO SORRY to have missed that!
It's a beautiful place, our country. We had wonderful adventures, and met nice people in every state. I mean that. People are nice. Everywhere. Friendly, and just plain nice.
I'm glad, selfishly, that I have seen New Orleans, for example, 'cause it's not there anymore. We met a man in the French Quarter there who told Niks, "I bet I can tell you where you got your shoes. If I can tell you where you got your shoes, will you give me $5?" Niks laughed, knowing that this street person couldn't possibly know where he purchased his shoes.
"Okay," Niks said. "But I know you can't know where I bought my shoes."
"I can tell you where you got your shoes. You got them on your feet!" We're suckers. Rubes. I think it's spray-painted on our foreheads. So this guy got a little money from us. It's a good memory for us anyway.
Thanks to Hoss for the site, World 66, and to dddragon for reminding me a little of the road trips we took when gas was cheap, station wagons were big, and the kids were little.
I've had some good luck in my life.
25 comments:
That sounds great. I myself have been to the States only once and stayed basically in New York, with a short trip to Atlantic City.
For my graduation a friend of mine and I are travelling through Europe.
Frankfurt, Prague, Vienna, Ljubljana, Venice, Florence, Rome, Pisa, Cannes, Marseille, Nice, Barcelona, Lisbon, Bilbao, Bordeaux, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. It will be so fantastic and I am so looking forward to it. One should always take some time to see the world we live in!
Wow, Monika, that's wonderful.
We've been to Europe twice only. Italy, Germany, England, France, staying only three weeks each time, since I was still working then.
We drove 'cross country because it was to expensive to fly six people. I wonder if that's still true now?
You had to pick red?
Red states creep me out.
That's an impressive map. By time I was 25 I had been to forty states. At 37, I've been to forty states. Maybe I should go to North Dakota.
I just had to have more information about the birthplace of Lawrence Welk. Here's what you missed.
You must get to Hawaii. It's really a pretty neat place. Raine talks about it quite a bit; I'll bet you'd love it if you went.
Pretty impressive map - you get around!
You've really travelled. I've been to a lot of states too, but you've got me beat!
Our country is beautiful and its people are beautiful too.
Wow! What a great traveler you have been.
Thanks for the chearful message for the day.
All the best for a good weekend.
I was hoping you'd do this map thing! Pretty cool.
Great New Orleans story. I'm glad a saw it a few years ago, too. What a wonderful city it was... I hope it can come back.
I haven't been to very many places: I like "being" somewhere; hate the hassle of travelling to get there. I've only been to NYC once.
Have you read The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson. It will bring back memories of your travels. :-)
Yes, I am so sorry that I will never see New Orleans that way. I always wanted to go, and put it off too long. I will regret that eternally, perhaps, depending on how much and what they can rebuild.
Gee whiz, Lucy, you MUST add Alaska to your map. Alaska is real cute.
Nice post. You ARE enjoying your retirement and it sounds like you enjoyed your life before retirement also. My parents took my sister and me to Disneyland when we were little, in the station wagon, when gas was cheap. That is a sweet memory. Those were the days, huh? :-)
Lazy Iguana – the site picks the color, but of course it’s more accurate than blue would be.
Doug – send me a postcard.
Fred – Oh you know I want to go to Hawaii! Husband needs to agree.
Thanks for the link to Lawrence. I'm so excited.
Bela – I really like Bill Bryson, but haven't read that one. I'll do it! Thanks.
Hoss – Husband has been to Alaska. His only (remaining) brother is living there. That's why I avoid it. 'Course the devil-I-was-just-speaking-of will be visiting us starting September 11. You thought Bonnie was bad. Wait until I post about Owen.
Schnoodlepooh – Yes, those were the days my friend. We thought they'd never end…
Saurkraut – Yep. Too bad you missed it. MAYBE it will be back, but should it be back?
Jamie and Barbara and daughters – thanks for commenting, and hanging in there with my crappy PC connections.
hoss: alaska is REAL CUTE? They should use that as their tourism slogan. LOL
And OH lawdy, Uncle Owen is coming ... remember to tell the auction story ...
you been around, TLP. that's impressive! xoxoxo
VERY impressive, Lucy! i just watched old home movies last night w/kev's family...dating back to the mid-1950's!! but his brother had put them all on a dvd!!
Cool - I want to be you when I grow up!
First - really should go see Alaska. having been born and raised there I can give you lots of insider tips. I'm thinking September 10th is a good day to go. =-)
Second - don't grow up in Alaska. Very hard to travel in a car with any number of kids since it takes a minimum of three days to get to the next state. So yeah, that's my non-travel excuse.
You passed up a chance to see the birthplace of Lawrence Welk? I just don't understand you, TLP.
How wonderful. My family traveled a lot as well (father was a Colonel in the Army) but nothinh like that.
I always envied kids that had station wagons. As an only child, I made friends quickly with kids from large families so that I could claim that back area in the car with the sideways seats...
"I call the back"
I will post a memory of New Orleans as well, good idea. Maybe when Stacie comes over since we always went together.
Soapy, that's my favorite comment you've ever left. I almost lost it last night and I was still chuckling about it this morning.
Yes, Soapy, and I've been sincerely sorry about it ever since. NOT
Sorry maybe, but I'm not that sincere.
How did you manage to miss North Dakota out of the 48 contiguous states? Impressive travels nonetheless.
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