Five Things I Learned on Vacation

Several years ago, my family stood in Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA just yards from where the US constitution was signed. We were on a vacation that included Philadelphia, Gettysburg, and Washington DC. Vacations in that area just reek of education and history. You could have signed us up for Parents of the Year.

"Mom," my son said, "the tour guides just said the constitution wasn't signed on July 4th like my teachers have always told me."

"Well, now you can go back and tell your teachers the correct story of how it was signed months later and all the other things you learned," I responded.

"No way!" He seemed repulsed. "I can't do that. The kids will make fun of me. You're not supposed to learn stuff on vacation."

And, to this day, he sticks to his story of "no learning on vacation."

I, however, differ. Read on.

 FIVE Things I've Learned Over the Past 4000 Miles

ONE:  The best thing my 20 year-old could hear me say is, "Drats! My camera batteries are dead."

TWO: I truly am an athlete. The sign at Niketown in California says so:

THREE:  If, upon checking into a downtown hotel, you are told by the hotel clerk (several times), "Do NOT leave anything in your car," you probably shouldn't leave your room on foot at 7:00 p.m. to shop at a store 1.5 miles away. I witnessed at least two illegal activities (and probably walked through others that my naive eyes did not detect) before returning to the hotel at dusk. Thank you, Son, for that experience.

FOUR:  I also learned that people actually DO steal from hotels. Oh, I've suspicioned this over the years - especially this year when we checked into two different (cheap) motel rooms where they didn't bother to include a clock for my room fee. But, upon checking into a little higher quality room, I saw this sign that confirmed my people-do-steal-from-hotels suspicion:

FIVE:  And lastly, I learned blue plastic sunglasses are NOT appreciated by my children.

But, hey, they were only $4.00 at Fisherman's Wharf. The two sons accompanying me on vacation refused to let me out of the car with my new blue shades. Needing some support, I texted a picture to my other adult children to get a vote on the glasses. Only my daughter-in-law sided with me. (Let's hear it for the in-laws!)

BUT - I also learned what to do with the not-so-popular $4.00 glasses.

Arriving in New Mexico, I discovered my nephew shared my taste in glasses. (His were only ornamental!)




I asked if he would like a matching pair to wear in the sun. So, Mark is the proud owner of two pair of blue glasses. When we left three days later, he was wearing them everywhere. I'm glad the glasses found a good home.

The last 4200 miles were fun. But it's good to be back home in our own little nest.