Capetown, South Africa
By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | Those of us born during the Depression and those born soon after World War II have really been lucky. They probably have seen more of the world than any other generation of people.
It’s been possible because of automobiles and ships and more leisure time, but mostly because of the jet airplane.
Americans are a traveling citizenry. Remember when you were growing up? Can you ever have imagined that you would have traveled so extensively?
A letter from a friend told of her growing up in South Georgia, and occasionally going to one of the Atlantic beaches. She wrote:
“When I was that poor child growing up on the farm, on extremely rare occasions I would actually make it to the coast at Jekyll, maybe Fernandina. I used to sit on the sand and wistfully look across the ocean toward Africa and wonder how I could ever get there. I didn’t think I would ever get there. For that matter, I didn’t think I would ever get anywhere. That just didn’t happen to barefooted country girls whose parents struggled mightily to even get food on the table.
“Since I started writing travel articles, I managed to get to Africa ten times, including trips to Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. All told, I’ve been to 41 countries (some, many times over) on five continents (missing Australia and Antarctica) and 44 states. Yes. I keep count of it all. I’ve met and had actual conversations with the likes of Prince Andrew, George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, and Mark Wahlberg. It’s all been more than I ever, ever, ever in a bazillion years would have expected.
“But I never, ever take it for granted, and consider it all just a big, undeserved blessing.”
What a wonderful bunch of journeys. Who would have thought?
This person’s jaunts caused me to consider how lucky I had been, seeing most of Europe when my wife and I were stationed for three years with the Army in Germany. And later trips for us back to Europe, to Asia, to South America, to Canada, and once for me, to Australia. Wow! What fantastic memories. And of course, seeing many beautiful and fantastic spots in the USA. I can still see myself at a hotel window in Niagara Falls, Canada, sitting and just staring endlessly at the water pouring over those falls. It just did not stop!
And my favorite places: in Georgia, St. Simons Island is always wonderful, plus of course in North Georgia, the nearby mountains. Take about any Georgia mountain path, and what will you often find? Waterfalls. Aren’t they wonderful?
We have always enjoyed Canada, especially Prince Edward Island. And New Orleans, and Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, and…..we could go on and on.
Yet even in retirement age, I still yearn to go places. Victoria Falls in Africa is one place I would like to visit, and nearby Botswana (because of the Alexander McCall Smith books!)…..and to Capetown. But wow! Thinking of that long flight tires me!
This summer we plan another trip to another place we have never been: to Cincinnati! Who’s got some suggestions?
We of today’s world are so pleased to have seen so much of our beautiful planet. We are so lucky.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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