Trips and Tales of Long Ago

I apologize, dear Reader,
for neglecting you yesterday.
An unexpected business trip
threw my schedule completely out of kilter.
I've only just gotten home and unpacked.

You know by now that I'm a fan of mini-trips.
Any excuse to travel is a good one - even business!

After our morning meeting, we enjoyed lunch
with a contemporary of my father's.
I don't know which was more enjoyable
– the food or the stories.

He talked of his father,
who graduated from Penn State in 1903.

His dad helped to develop the first airport in Pittsburgh,
where Lindbergh landed during his good will tour;
and of trying to build a business during the Depression.

He told us of his own experiences during WWII in the Air Corps,
and what life was like after the war - the myriad changes
in his family and businesses through the past century and more.

One of the best reasons for travel is to visit with family …
meet old and new friends … and share life's experiences.

So many of the stories told by the veterans of WWII –
whether they served overseas
or supported the troops from home –
(and the stories they remember about their ancestors)
are doomed to be lost if they aren't captured soon
with audio, video, or pen & paper.

So here's my travel suggestion for you today.
Sometime in the next few months,
spend a few hours or a few days visiting
with the most senior members of your family.
Ask them for all the stories they can remember
about their story – your history.

I wish you great stories and happy travels.