Last week we did what we live to do--travel. We went up to the Adirondack Mountains for a few days and followed our typical travel tenets--explore, learn, listen, share, challenge thyself, and eat good food. This was the first trip we've taken since committing to "Old Dogs New Tricks" and while this trip wasn't an "official" part of that expedition itself, it certainly was a part of the journey. We went into the mountains with our blog business cards in hand, eager to invite others to come along with the old dogs as we traverse the ins and outs of America, middle-age and the new American dream. What we discovered was heartfelt enthusiasm, eager advice, and moving tales in some of the most unexpected places.
- We could have sat and chatted all day with Debbie at the Whiteface Mountain gondola. I can't even remember now what it was that drew us to her just after we disembarked from the ski lift. Did she say something to us? Did her kind face draw us to her? I'm just not sure but she warmed our hearts and inspired us with her words and wisdom.
- Then, there was Fred, bartender and renaissance man at the Great Adirondack Brewing Company in Lake Placid. We had so much in common—from a love of Civil War history to a mutual awareness of a defunct brewpub called "Gettysbrew" in Gettysburg where the beer maker didn't taste or drink the beer he made (the results were, let’s just say, “legendary”). Then, there was Fred's invaluable advice on places to visit and nosh along the South Carolina coast. Fred also shared with us that he is the father of two US ARMY infantry officers who served combat tours in Iraq and he is the co-chair of Tee Off Fore A Cause which actively supports the Wounded Warrior Project. While Ted and I are exercising our freedom to explore the new American dream, there are thousands of devoted men and women serving in proud service to our country. This was an important reminder to us that, when these servicemen and women return home, their ability to resume or pursue their own American dream may be severely compromised. Needless to say, our stop at Great Adirondack Brewing was much more than a visit to a brewpub. We would go well out of our way to share conversation again with Fred.
- And, how about Bert, our co-host at the Willkommen Hof Bed & Breakfast in Wilmington, New York? We enjoyed his company and he made us chuckle again and again when we thought about his Monday night advice for attending breakfast the next morning: "Just be down here before nine if you want something hot". We do love a straightforward approach!
- We were reminded what a small world it is when we did indeed come down to breakfast before 9am the following morning. There sat another traveling couple...my parents' next door neighbors from Syracuse. What are the odds? But, that is so true of life: Truth is invariably always stranger (and more delightful) than fiction.
- There was a curious and delightful convergence of perspectives at the Hungry Trout in Wilmington, New York. What could have been just a delicious dinner of succulent trout turned into a round robin of conversation about life and its lessons among yours truly and her handsome husband, a 26-year old father with wisdom beyond his years, a senior couple who met on Second Life, a bartender with spunk, and our waitress who was radiant about a recent opportunity that is opening doors to her American Dream.
- We learned that our hosts at the Schroon Lake Bed & Breakfast are living their own American Dream--when least expected. Mark and Sharon opened this marvelous B&B last year and we look forward to sharing more about their odyssey on a future "American Dream" post.
So, why tell these stories now, when our departure date is still several weeks away? As we keep learning, nothing happens independent of everything else and nothing lives in isolation. Everything affects everything and so it is with "Old Dogs, New Tricks". It seems that the train has already left the station even though the bags aren't even packed! -- Laura
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