Because
of a recent Sunday School lesson I was thinking about aging and getting
aged and, as odd as it seems to me, thinking about me getting old. I
suppose, given the choices, I had rather get old than the alternative. I
know I need to live for a longer time as I have two great-grand sons to
see get raised correctly. It is very possible I shall have to give
advice and you know I hardly ever do that. Oh, and there will probably
be more babies as I have four more granddaughters and three grandsons
who haven’t had any of their own babies yet. Yes, you are correct, I
shall probably have to live to 101 just to see everybody gets off to the
correct start. ...and furthermore, may I repeat, I hardly ever give
advice but am always available when needed.
Most
of you will remember that I have traveled on occasion and have met some
wonderful people in other wonderful places. Whilst riding a city bus in
L’viv, Ukraine I noticed the front-right side of the bus was empty. I
asked our guide why she wouldn’t sit there as she was standing. The
lettering on the wall of the bus said that those seats were served for
“senior citizens” and one could be fined severely if a senior need that
seat and you were in it. Now that is what I call a civilized country.
That’s not all.
In
almost every place we visit out of the USA we notice we are almost
catered to by others who see to it that we get on the bus, elevator or
through a door or whatever. It seems to be part of other country’s DNA
to assist the older members of the population and not run them over
because they are slow and in the way. Other places/people do this aid
without being condescending and that makes it nice. It is hard to get
used to or accept when you are not always treated this way.
Part
of our problem, I would have to think, is that the people of the USA
are in a hurry. It seems that we rush through everything and that also
means we rush through life. Yes, it starts very early. Our little kids
are in a hurry to get to school, then they have eyes for little else but
to get to drive, then to graduate high school and then get a “better”
job or graduate college. Why the hurry? What about all the good things
that could be happening while you were rushing through the healthiest
part of your life.
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| Typical beach scene in Mexico |
Not
every kid in every country is like this. Many zillions of European, New
Zealand and Aussie kids put on a back pack and go trekking across the
world. They work at what they can, when they can and then travel on.
There are youth hostels all over the world that cater to these
backpackers and they are a delight to stay in. These kids meet other
people, form temporary friendships, sometimes travel together and then
move on. Some of them have already entered the world of work and they
decided not to participate just yet. They exchange information that is
valuable to fellow travelers and also exchange warnings.
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| Scene in Italy |
After
doing a months long trip or more, they have a better idea of what the
real world, the whole world is all about and they can better adjust to
it. I would have to say that most foreign kids are not as xenophobic as
many, if not most, American kids are. Think about kids from a small town
and think how many of them have ever gone out to see the “real world”
or real life. Young people from a small village in Germany may travel
all across Europe without giving it a thought. It is hard to think of a
youth from Smallville, USA who would travel backpack border to border by
him/herself.
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| typical scene - Cuba |
This
is what I want my grand and great-grand kids to do. They should get out
and see the world as it is, not just as the travel magazines and tour
guides tell them it is. Get out and meet real people in real people
circumstance. Meet people from small villages and not just city
landmarks. Since I am going to have to live until I am 110 just to get
them raised, I may even go with them. (Just to make sure they are all
right, you understand.)
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| Cozemel |
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