Friday, August 1, 2008

Local Tourists

We went on vacation yesterday. Travelled 20 miles and toured a museum I used to love when it was little and underfunded and no one knew about it. Now it is much bigger and has more funding and people actually go there.

This seemed like a great day to go because:
a) I deemed it so, and
b) Our less than enthusiastic teen is gone to Tennessee with her church youth group

A bonus for us was that this museum is located on the campus of the university where I used to work. I just knew my boys would be very happy to see that. After all, it was the reason I moved to this state. I earned my doctorate there. I met fascinating people there. I had my own offices there. WOW!

Here is what I learned yesterday:

1. Even with more space and $$ and visitors, my favorite museum is disjointed and confusing. The problem is that it has now lost its charm.

2. My boys could care less about certain parts of my life.


"Look!" I said, "That's the building where my office was! There's the building where I met the university president! There's the building where I used to teach!"

Then I realized no one really cared. Here is what my boys took away from my trip down memory lane:



  • One boy was intrigued about the cultural differences of the city and was loudly expressing his interest.

  • Another boy was concerned with the non-functioning fountains.

  • The youngest boy was simply sitting down in the middle of the walkway. He was done. Their favorite part of the trip was discovering the student center with all the fast food outlets.

3. That we need a camera with a larger screen so that when one son takes a picture of us, we can actually see that it is a lousy picture before we post it on a blog.


12 comments:

Laura ~Peach~ said...

lol please its a great pic!

Big Hair Envy said...

Personally, I think it's really cool that you had offices there and met the president! I also think it's awesome that you have earned a PhD. Sorry the museum was disappointing.

Is there something wrong with your family picture? All of mine seem to look like that!!

Pleasing Procrasinator said...

It is a good picture...too ad he wasn't in it with you tho.
I feel a little disappointed when the children aren't as into things that I have so enjoyed. Ahh, how things change.

Grandma Tillie's Bakery said...

One of our (my husband and I) favorite things to do is go back and look at the places we used to live when we were first married. I. like you, thought our offspring would be interested in reminiscing with us.

One just brings a pile of library books and reads, the other always schedules herself to work on those particular days.

BTW--it's a NICE picture!

Wonderful World of Weiners said...

I'm holding you to that. If you get famous AND let yourself go, I am SOOOOO taking pics of you and selling them to the highest bidder!

Hallie :)

Anonymous said...

I love being a local tourist!! There are so many places my girls have never been to just because we're "local".

Anonymous said...

And you need a Gorillapod, which is a small little portable tripod that can hook to anything, so you can put the camera on it and get all three boys in the shot :)
I like seeing the family (minus one budding young photographer and one Tennessee teen)! That's still a really neat shot for a little man! I am impressed.
Museums come and go, some are great, some fizzle. But it's the experience that makes the day right? I mean, new food court? How cool is that?! I am sure the boys would have liked that the best anyhow even if there was a million new exhibits! haha

As Cape Cod Turns said...

I just love trips down memory lane! At least you tried!

Anonymous said...

Well, I'm impressed anyway! I think it is great you earned a doctorate and met the university president. I also know what you mean about the children being unimpressed. My oldest met someone I went to school with and she told my son I was smart in school. He had a look like-you can't be talking about my mother. lol...
Good photo and real looking.

Mental P Mama said...

Gah. Kids.... But I bet they will remember the day...

Jan said...

If it makes you feel any better I am willing to bet that one day those very same boys will take their children to see where "Grandma" met the University President, had an office and earned her PhD. The museum? Uhhh, maybe.

Jeannelle said...

Kids just always keep us tied down to earth.

Nice partial family photo! I especially like the two light bulbs on either side of your head......appropriately symbolic!!