Places

As is evident from my chubby little feet in the photo above, my husband and I have simple demands for our getaways. The probability of a post showing my feet nestled on a sandy beach with an azure ocean in the background is almost nil. Our requirements are twofold, quiet and no crowds. Throw in limited driving and no air travel and we are good to go.

Vacation destinations are often based on what a place has to offer. More importantly, one must also be aware of what a place does not offer. Here are a few does-not-haves that I believe contribute to a restful respite from the everyday routine.

1) Technology--Our favorite destination has no cell phone service, limited Wi-Fi and a small TV offering two channels. Conversations are uninterrupted by chirping phones. Decisions are few with just two channels to deal with. Time is spent on reading, meditating or just watching nature go by. Heaven, for sure.

2) Urban noise--The constant buzz of living in a city often goes unnoticed when one becomes numb to the clatter. Sitting on a peaceful country veranda located away from the commotion of a city is a tonic of peacefulness. Suddenly, the conversations of birds are crystal clear. The songs played by the wind in the tree tops are deciphered. The buzz of pollinators slipping in and out of summer flowers is distinctively detected. The silence gives rise to clearer thinking and deeper, more thoughtful breathing. Easier than yoga in my book. (Sorry, namaste friends.)

3)  Retail centers--I am a lousy shopper so this one is a no-brainer. I do not collect anything that needs dusting or maintenance so that eliminates souvenir acquisitions. Purchasing clothing is akin to a colonoscopy on the fun-o-meter for me so wardrobe offerings need not be perused. "Locally" made jams and jellies in diminutive jars with cute little gingham toppers unsuccessfully beg for a place in my refrigerator. Mugs sporting destination logos will mostly likely not improve the taste of my coffee and the t-shirts with cutesy catch phrases will have to adorn another tourist.

4) Amusement--There is a time and place for amusement opportunities such as water slides, ferris wheels and Epcot centers. Great fun for the young and the young at heart. That being said, there is also a time and place for quietude. Stimulative moments in today's world hurl away at us at abrasive speeds. "Down" time is viewed with skepticism and there is often a nagging fear of missing out on something if we are not always on the go. The popular mantra of FOMO (fear of missing out) exemplifies a comparative way to live. Never fear, you will be okay if you never rappel down the side of a castle wall or wend your way through the Amazon rain forest. I am the poster child for missing out on adventures and I am still able to function on a daily basis (no comment from my sibs, please).

Whether your summer vacation includes a trip to Distneyland or an afternoon at your local park, don't forget to make a little space for yourself. Breathe, watch the birds, sip on a cool drink, listen to the wind and let your thoughts settle.

And if you are really desperate for an adventure, do what I do. Go to the library and check out a few books. So far, my literary friends have provided me with near death ocean and river experiences, a nasty grizzly bear encounter and a whodunit murder mystery.  FOMO, be damned.

Promotion

Do not get excited about the implied meaning in the title of this post. I will not be getting a promotion any time soon. Let me rephrase. I will never get a promotion in my current career, unless you count the move I made from a windowless room to a room with a view of the cafeteria. I am not complaining, rather, I am simply stating the facts. Fortunately, my DNA is programmed to be less focused on promotions and  more on the job that needs to be done now. Therefore, I am puzzled by the recent craze of graduation ceremonies for every child, puppy or chicken who takes a step toward next year's requirements.

In my opinion, the most egregious example is pre-school graduations. They are filled with little peeps clutching certificates of merit and photo-ops with button busting parents. Flower bouquets are showered upon the tots as if to say they accomplished a climb to the top of Mount Everest without an oxygen tank. Rational parents are guilted into going with the flow so little Lena won't be the only one without a gift bag and a red rose. Seriously, folks, must we start with the formal ceremonies for the under six crowd? Darling as the munchkins are, their only true accomplishment was finding their socks and shoes and getting in the car when the parental units barked out, "Time for school!" Believing that the little ones earned a graduation extravaganza sends a message that rewards are given for doing what you are supposed to do.

I confess my eighth grade graduation was a ceremony with great pomp and circumstance and looking back, I wonder if it was necessary. It was certainly an evening of much anticipation. The girls always selected dresses of the same color (our mother's sewed back then) and we all had our hair done professionally. I went to the "Beauty Box" located in a basement room below a store on main street. I am not sure why I thought a bouffant style was a good idea but my new do made me feel older and more mature so I went with it. Pictures from the event confirm my suspicions, I looked like a 14-year-old wearing a blond helmet. Nevertheless, I was proud of my diploma and I didn't realize my only accomplishment was following state mandates.

A case can be made for most graduation ceremonies rewarding little more than compliance to given criteria. Although that may be true, there are many students (sadly) who do not make it through high school. A combination of life and poor choices can sabotage a walk across the stage for a diploma. Students receiving a diploma after 12+ years of formal education deserve some clapping of hands and parties of punch and cake. High school is also a fork in the road for teenagers. College, technical institutes and jobs await further exploration and many decisions will be made along the way. A graduation ceremony sends a message of celebration and support.

So, if your neighbor sends you a graduation invitation for their chicken who laid its first egg, stay strong. Decline the invitation but offer to make an omelet. That is a true accomplishment.