Lately, my speaking tours have taken me all across the country and my audiences have been as varied as the landscape of America.
During one of my workshop sessions, I blurted out a geography question to the audience. I asked if anyone could tell me where Mount Rushmore was located. Amazingly, no one responded. So, again, I repeated the question.
Thinking perhaps my microphone was broken or maybe I was momentarily hearing impaired (Of course, I am being sarcastic), I asked the question again for the third time.
You could have knocked me over with a feather!
Inexplicably, the audience of over 200 people could not identify that Mount Rushmore is located in South Dakota!
Did I tell you that I was speaking before a group of teachers?
Ouch!
Years and years ago, I thought that it was “hip” to dash to the islands and to partake in the sun, sand, and surf of other countries. Then, one day, I realized that there were so many sites that I hadn’t visited within the United States. As an educator and as an American citizen, I felt very ashamed.
That was the day that I vowed that until I had extensively travelled throughout my own country and until I had visited America’s majestic beauty, monuments, and many of the iconic statures that my ancestors’ built, I would never allow my toes to touch foreign soil again.
Happily, I can report that I have kept that promise which has resulted in me traveling extensively throughout 45 of the 50 states. In each state, I became either an anthropologist or an archeologist and from one slice of the state to the other, I devoured it.
After each trip, I looked like Santa Claus because I bought so many books, post cards, maps, rocks, pictures, mementos, and other memorabilia that served as a treasure trove of historical knowledge. Soon, I will need to buy a larger house because my home will be unable to sustain the additional collectables from the five remaining states I have yet to visit (laugh out loud)!
As an educator, historian, and a consummate traveler, I am disheartened when I meet people who are not as excited and stimulated as I am about learning. Art, literature, history, world events, travel, music, politics, religion, cuisines, culture, and current events are just some of the relative topics germane to one’s intellectual palate!
Recounting this sad story to my 12-year old daughter, I reminded her not to date a uniformed beau. Again, she reassured me that an “intellectual dork” was not on her radar screen.
Way to go, girl!
Then, our casual conversation soon became hysterically funny when, along with tons and tons and tons of dramatic animation, she gave me a “sneak peek” into her first date!
Scene one: Upon his arrival, Mantha would lead the suitor to our home library where he would be instructed to select several books that he has previously read.
Scene two: Mantha would require her date to give an oral synopsis of the books that he had chosen.
Scene three: To further test her beau’s knowledge, she will invite him to “bless” the meal.
Scene four: Following the blessing of the meal, the young man will be requested to recite several Bible verses that he was familiar with excluding “Jesus wept.”
Finale: Judging from my husband’s eyes and from the smirk that was plastered on his face, I am guessing that it’s going to be a “hell” of a long wait before we eat!
Lordy!
