I've turned into my Father!!!!
There's a moment in most people's lives when all the world stops as their mind comes to a startling conclusion.........
I've just turned into my mother or father as the case may be.
We loaded the kids up in our minivan- which is completely full by the way. We headed to Dayton, OH to look at a very used,much larger van that might hold us and the kids' friends when necessary. As a hopefully typical home school family, we turned it into "Field Trip Day." We had just read about the building of the National Road in Ohio history and its role in Ohio's expansion. So, after a quick call to my oh so very wise father (!) to double check the location of the National Road, we made the decision to take a bit of extra time and travel a little on this piece of history. I took a bit of encouragement by the excited look in my girls' eyes when I told them the exciting news! We turned off of the drab, traffic ladened interstate with a bit of anticipation that something new was coming. But, all we saw was more of the same- old gas stations, restaurants and traffic lights. I tried the encouraging line of "Okay kids just imagine......." But was feeling a bit discouraged that maybe it was just a waste of time.
Then the moment came. I saw a sign. The sign made note that we were traveling on the National Road. It was a small, somewhat inconspicuous sign. No flashy colors. No fancy marketing efforts. And this small part of me (that thankfully stayed quiet) wanted to stop the van, unload the family, and yes- do I dare say it- take a PICTURE!!! AHHHHH I realized at that moment that it had happened- I had turned into my father!!!! When I laughingly told my husband what was going through my mind, he said the words I wasn't sure I wanted to hear, "Well, I was thinking the same thing!"
Well we laughed for a bit about it. Then I began to think how silly it was that we even made this diversion. But then two things happened- one, we saw a krazy glue factory which was just something useless but fun none the less. More importantly, I saw a bit of me, not in the mirror, but in the words of my daughter piping up from the back seat. "Mom, I just closed my eyes and imagined a dirt road......." Yeah, she will say it too and hopefully with pride- Oh no, I just turned into my mother!!!
By the way, I'm proud to be like you Dad!
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On the road with kids
I love to cruise with kids. They're so open to ideas and information.
About 12 years ago my nephew and I took a little field trip to check out some of the colonial forts here in southwestern Pennsylvania. We went to Fort Necessity (along the National Road!) and studied the tiny fort where George Washington got his first battle experience. As we walked around the fort, we discussed the fact that we were on the spot where George Washington had actually been. We were looking at a landscape that George Washington had looked at. Some of the details may be different (paved highway instead of a rutted road, mowed grass instead of pasture, Park Service Visitor Center instead of French troops), but this was a place where something had happened.
From Fort Necessity, we jumped north from the National Road (US Route 40) to the Lincoln Highway (US Route 30) which also follows an earlier military road. As we wound up and down the ridges of the PA countryside, we read each historical marker. With each "this is where . . . " or "near here . . ." or "General so-and-so camped here on this date on his way to . . .," my nephew got deeper and deeper into that most stunning of realizations -- we share our landscape with everyone who went before us.
At first, he was incredulous. "You mean, George Washington stood right here where I'm standing?"
"Yes, Frank, or pretty close to it. You're standing in George Washington's footprints."
We stopped at Fort Ligonier. "So, ah, Aunt Paula. Those soldiers lived right here, right where we are now?"
"Yes, Frank."
We drove down the steep Allegheny Front toward Bedford. "How did those soldiers get their wagons up this hill? I'll bet they were tired."
"Yes, Frank."
We stopped at the Jean Bonnet Tavern near Bedford for dinner. "You mean George Washington was right here, in this room where we are right now?"
"Well, he was probably upstairs." The dining room of the tavern is now in the basement, but historically, this was probably the kitchen.
It was a great day. By the time we got home, we were both exhausted! But then, we had travelled a couple of hundred miles and a couple of hundred years!
Great Story Paula
Those are some great stops along the Path of Progress. You have a way of showing the countryside and telling a story. As Washington had a story to tell after his journey to Western Pennsylvania so does Frank.
Clay hardens by immobility – men's minds by standing pat. Both lose the power to take new impressions. (Pinchot 1910: 138)
preachin to the choir
It happens to all of us....I think it's most shocking when you realize you can channel BOTH mother and dad, hahaha!!
I've been hearing my mom's words come out of my mouth since i started teaching 11 years ago, trite things like "b/c i said so" or 'when you're the boss you can make those rules' I can remember being rankled the first time it hit me what i was blurting out! I was only 22--what was I saying!!!
Now that I re-use these phrases of my parents with my kidlets tho, i kinda find it comforting, and feel like i'm passing on heritage. or at the very least raising my kids like i was raised, with tweaks of course, hahaha!
And frankly, if you don't stop & show the kids the National Road, who will? I'm proud of ya, and plan on doing the same when my kids are old enough to appreciate it (right now our car rides consist of 'look at the cows/sheep/trains/BIG TRUCK"!)
the best of times
Thanks for the smile!
You're good. But I'm a little disappointed that it wasn't that exact sign I saw. The sign I saw was on the other side of the road!!!! HA