America! America! God shed His grace on thee. And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea!
–“America the Beautiful” (Katharine Lee Bates)
One year ago today, I developed respiratory symptoms that turned out to be Covid 19. My wife and I were sick for a week. Nothing terrible. Lucky, to say the least.
We’d just returned from a trip to Australia and New Zealand. The cruise line closed down operations when we were at sea off the North Island of NZ, so we sailed back to Sydney, Australia and caught the final international flight out of its airport. It was good to get back to the USA.
For us, it was a bucket list trip. Although we likely contracted the virus from one of the hundreds with Covid on the ship, we have no regrets. Many people only dream of such a trip.
As our country and the world slowly open, people will consider traveling internationally again. Obviously, like all things in life, there are risks.
The good news is there are incredibly beautiful places to see in our own country, both far and near. Alaska, for example, is so gorgeous it seems everywhere you look, you see a postcard–a Kodak moment, if you will (remember Kodak?). And the Great Smoky Mountains are just a short car ride away.
For the last ten years, two of my best friends and I have taken a week-long backpacking trip every other year to various places in the U.S. We’ve traveled as near as the Dolly Sods Wilderness in West Virginia’s Allegheny Mountains and as far away as the Wonderland Trail near Mount Rainier.
Rainier is simply stunning. In fact, a picture I took is on the Contact Me page of my website. In no way does the picture do the mountain justice!
We’ve also backpacked the Wind River Range in Wyoming, and Yellowstone, Glacier, and Yosemite National Parks. Each in its own way possesses breathtaking beauty.
All of this is to say we are blessed to live in a beautiful country. If you listen to the wrong (in my opinion) voices, you’d think our country is awful, with a shameful history and replete with citizens who are xenophobic, misogynistic, racist, deplorable, or whatever negative adjective you could pick to demagogue others.
This could not be farther from the truth, and I will never be thirsty enough to drink such ridiculous Kool-Aid.
Our country is the best example of what a democratic republic can be. Our people are generous, caring, and sensitive to the plight of others. I have no science to follow, but I believe the vast majority of us live harmoniously in the company of people of all colors, backgrounds, and faiths.
After all, if America were so bad, would people be streaming in at the southern border, and would there be folks from all over the world awaiting legal entry?
So, as the country opens and we become comfortable traveling again, consider a domestic trip. There are wonderful places to go, and the airlines, train systems, hotels, restaurants and tourist destinations will welcome our return and benefit from our support.
So, welcome back, America…and happy traveling!
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America! America! God shed His grace on thee. And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea!
–“America the Beautiful” (Katharine Lee Bates)
One year ago today, I developed respiratory symptoms that turned out to be Covid 19. My wife and I were sick for a week. Nothing terrible. Lucky, to say the least.
We’d just returned from a trip to Australia and New Zealand. The cruise line closed down operations when we were at sea off the North Island of NZ, so we sailed back to Sydney, Australia and caught the final international flight out of its airport. It was good to get back to the USA.
For us, it was a bucket list trip. Although we likely contracted the virus from one of the hundreds with Covid on the ship, we have no regrets. Many people only dream of such a trip.
As our country and the world slowly open, people will consider traveling internationally again. Obviously, like all things in life, there are risks.
The good news is there are incredibly beautiful places to see in our own country, both far and near. Alaska, for example, is so gorgeous it seems everywhere you look, you see a postcard–a Kodak moment, if you will (remember Kodak?). And the Great Smoky Mountains are just a short car ride away.
For the last ten years, two of my best friends and I have taken a week-long backpacking trip every other year to various places in the U.S. We’ve traveled as near as the Dolly Sods Wilderness in West Virginia’s Allegheny Mountains and as far away as the Wonderland Trail near Mount Rainier.
Rainier is simply stunning. In fact, a picture I took is on the Contact Me page of my website. In no way does the picture do the mountain justice!
We’ve also backpacked the Wind River Range in Wyoming, and Yellowstone, Glacier, and Yosemite National Parks. Each in its own way possesses breathtaking beauty.
All of this is to say we are blessed to live in a beautiful country. If you listen to the wrong (in my opinion) voices, you’d think our country is awful, with a shameful history and replete with citizens who are xenophobic, misogynistic, racist, deplorable, or whatever negative adjective you could pick to demagogue others.
This could not be farther from the truth, and I will never be thirsty enough to drink such ridiculous Kool-Aid.
Our country is the best example of what a democratic republic can be. Our people are generous, caring, and sensitive to the plight of others. I have no science to follow, but I believe the vast majority of us live harmoniously in the company of people of all colors, backgrounds, and faiths.
After all, if America were so bad, would people be streaming in at the southern border, and would there be folks from all over the world awaiting legal entry?
So, as the country opens and we become comfortable traveling again, consider a domestic trip. There are wonderful places to go, and the airlines, train systems, hotels, restaurants and tourist destinations will welcome our return and benefit from our support.
So, welcome back, America…and happy traveling!
3 Comments
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This subject was on my mind this morning as I drove to the office. Perception is one’s reality. We each see the world around us through different eyes. Sitting at lunch with a dear friend last week I held up the mustard pack and ask what color is this package? The answer from her point of view was yellow. From my point of view, the package was very white. We could have debated the color for a long time, become irate over the inability of the other to see the “true” color and/or simply walked away. I chose to turn the package around and share my view and her view. The value of a mission trip is not in what work you may do, but in seeing the world from a different view point. America is a great country filled with wonderful people each with their own perception of the world around them.
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I have always thought the United States was a wonderful country and nothing has happened to change my mind but I deplore the news and publicity that we and others hear and read via various media. Some good must be getting through tho, because, as you said, so many want to come here. I welcome those who share our love for this country. I just wish our government would remember we are a nation of laws and there is a right way and wrong way to come to this country and enjoy its beauty.
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I loved your message today, Tim! We do have a beautiful country, and are blessed to have democracy and good people who live here. There is a bucket list I have of places in our country to visit while I am still in good health and can travel and enjoy the trips and scenery. However, I agree with Judy’s comment. We must remember our laws and enforce the right way for visitors to enter our country to protect our own citizens. It’s always best to follow the rules!!
This subject was on my mind this morning as I drove to the office. Perception is one’s reality. We each see the world around us through different eyes. Sitting at lunch with a dear friend last week I held up the mustard pack and ask what color is this package? The answer from her point of view was yellow. From my point of view, the package was very white. We could have debated the color for a long time, become irate over the inability of the other to see the “true” color and/or simply walked away. I chose to turn the package around and share my view and her view. The value of a mission trip is not in what work you may do, but in seeing the world from a different view point. America is a great country filled with wonderful people each with their own perception of the world around them.
I have always thought the United States was a wonderful country and nothing has happened to change my mind but I deplore the news and publicity that we and others hear and read via various media. Some good must be getting through tho, because, as you said, so many want to come here. I welcome those who share our love for this country. I just wish our government would remember we are a nation of laws and there is a right way and wrong way to come to this country and enjoy its beauty.
I loved your message today, Tim! We do have a beautiful country, and are blessed to have democracy and good people who live here. There is a bucket list I have of places in our country to visit while I am still in good health and can travel and enjoy the trips and scenery. However, I agree with Judy’s comment. We must remember our laws and enforce the right way for visitors to enter our country to protect our own citizens. It’s always best to follow the rules!!