HEMLINES

October 28, 2015 startsolo Leave a comment

Up until sixth grade, I was required to wear a skirt or dress to school.

In kindergarten, I recall wearing a dress that ended a few inches below the knees. Over the years it inched up, with my increasing height, somewhere above my knees. I do not recall anyone taking notice. But from second or third grade on it seemed that everyone’s eyes were on my hemlines, and they had to be just so.

According to the fickle rules of fashion, there was the two-fingers rule above the knee one year, the two-fingers rule below another, and there was the year that the hemline was to fall mid-knee. The hemlines of my dresses and skirts rarely adhered to these strict codes.

Some years later girls and women, guided by their daily whims, were wearing minis, midis, maxis, and various lengths in between.
Oh happy day!

TRAVEL TALES

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

October 26, 2015 startsolo Leave a comment

My two months of traveling through Russia and Mongolia, ended with a short stay in Beijing, before making my way back home.

I stayed in a hostel situated in the hutongs, alleys formed by lines of siheyuan, traditional courtyard residences, relatively undisturbed by the incessant modernization. There, I was greeted by a friendly young man who worked at the hostel. He introduced himself as Lucky. During my short stay our paths crossed often and we would exchange a warm hello.

One day, not unlike the others, I said, “Hey Lucky.” He smiled and returned the greeting, but this time another employee said, “His name is not Lucky.” Suprised, I asked,” It’s not? What is it?” “Lucky” he said. “Lucky?” I responded somewhat confused. “No, Lucky, you know Sylvester Stallone, Lucky,” he said emphatically. “Rocky?” I asked.”Yes, Lucky,” I heard him say again.

week end break

WEEKEND BREAK

October 24, 2015 startsolo Leave a comment

Thank you subscribers and readers for taking the time to visit my blog!!

If this is the first time you are visiting the site, welcome to the tales of a woman solo traveler and thoughts to make today the start of something new.

Although I take a break during the weekends, I’ll be back on Monday and would be delighted, in the meantime, if you would look through my previous posts. Perhaps you missed a few or will reread one with a new perspective.There is a list of all the previous posts by title and date.

Since the configuration of the site may differ on your browser, perhaps you have not noticed the tabs which offer some additional information:Why this blog?, Images, How I Began, etc.

You can search certain posts by category: Practical Advice, Thoughts on Oneself, Snapshots, etc.

All of these may be at the very bottom of the posts.

While traveling I may not be posting each day. To be notified when I have written a new post please subscribe-of course its free.
I would be delighted if you would sign up.

I hope you find information and inspiration in the text and images and join me in my quest for growth, wonderment and self-improvement.

Here’s to new discoveries near and far!

Enjoy the days.

MISADVENTURES: LARGE AND SMALL

A DEAL

October 23, 2015 startsolo Leave a comment

After considerable cajoling, my parents finally gave in and bought me a television. I was probably around sixteen. It was an 18 inch black and white TV: one of my cherished possessions, until college, when my interest in television viewing waned considerably. Years later I decided to sell it. It was still in good condition, and asked what I deemed a fair price. Maybe it was $50 or $75, I can’t recall.

I was renting a room at that time in a beautiful home. The owner was away and I shared it with her nineteen-year-old son.

I had advertised in the local paper, found a buyer, and arranged for the TV to be picked up. I asked the son, in case I was out, if he could handle the sale. “Sure”, he said, ” no problem.”

Later that day, I arrived home. “That guy came by, here’s your money,” the son said. “Great, thanks so much.” I replied. But, when I went to my room, my TV was still there.

Heading back into the living room I noticed the gap where the owner’s 27 inch color television once was.

THOUGHTS ON ONESELF

KNOWING THYSELF

October 20, 2015 startsolo Leave a comment

Although I was too young to attend Woodstock, I was influenced by the radical change of mores prevelant at that time. Nudity was becoming more acceptable. Modesty still existed, but many of us were shedding our clothes and provincial skins. When I went to college in Upstate New York, skinny dipping in the mountains’ rivers or natural pools was commonplace. We would sun ourselves on large, smooth rocks, chat, snack, and walk about, unashamed, by the water’s edge.

Ten or so years later, I was invited to stay with a friend of a friend while visiting the Boston area. We had met a few times. He was a gracious host, offering to show me the town. We engaged in lively conversation at dinner. When I came from my room the following morning to join him for breakfast, he was seated at the table, greeted me warmly, and invited me to partake in the meal he had prepared. He was at all times polite, cordial, respectful, and pleasant.

My attention to the quality of the jam, bread, and lovely fare diminished however when I noticed that beyond his bare chest, every other part of his body was also bare.

I hadn’t shed my provincial skin after all.

GENERAL NOTICE

SHOW TIME

October 19, 2015 startsolo Leave a comment

Thank you, with all my heart, to my family, and friends, old and new, who offered an outpouring of well wishes these past few weeks.

Thank you so much to those who wrote, called, and dropped by my various art shows. And a particular thank you to those who rolled up their sleeves to lend a hand (G. and D.). I could not have done it without you!!!

I am looking forward to the days ahead with new adventures, new art work, new encounters, and more time with those whom I hold dear.

OBSERVATIONS

THE BEST AROUND

October 16, 2015 startsolo Leave a comment

A friend and I headed a few hours north of New York City to camp and commune with Thoreau’s spirit. In the hopes of buying some local produce, we stopped into a small town’s single grocery store. The shelves were sparsely stocked, but we bought some produce, a few other items, and some peanut butter cookies displayed in a large jar resting on the counter.

The pears were sweet and divine, as were the tomatoes, but what astounded me was the taste and texture of those peanut butter cookies. Their tan, plain, hard exterior revealed a soft, delectable, mouth-watering interior.

A week or so later looking forward to another pleasurable gastronomic experience, I bought a peanut butter cookie in my local, highly regarded, bakery.

New Yorkers have a tendency to believe that the best of everything can be found within their small domain. And admittedly, our opinion is not completely unwarranted. But one’s hubris virtually guarantees a fall or at the very least a more humbled perspective.

TRAVEL TALES

PUDDLE JUMPING TO ZANZIBAR

October 15, 2015 startsolo Leave a comment

The plane flying to Zanzibar had a capacity for six passengers. I walked on the tarmac with the others taking the same flight.

No seats were assigned. Our tickets indicated only the date, time of departure, and the destination. In the customary first-come, first-served world I am famiiar with, I assumed, being at the front of the line assured me a first choice of seating. Not that it mattered too much, given the size of the plane, we all had the luxury of both a window and an aisle seat.

But then the pilot arrived, a large man with ample belly. Without much of an introduction he asked us each what we weighed. Surprised by the question I nonetheless dutifully answered, as did the other awaiting passengers. After hearing our responses he pointed and added, “You, there.” “You, here.” “You, back there.” ” You, in the front.” until we were all seated. I was placed in the back row, not the seat I would have chosen, but my preference was clearly of little priority.

We were soon skimming over the Indian Ocean. Our altitude was never high. The flight was short, but memorable, amid the African sky.

MISADVENTURES: LARGE AND SMALL

LEARNING A THING ABOUT CARS

October 14, 2015 startsolo Leave a comment

After my first year in college, mid-70’s, I found employment working at Saratoga Race Course, again as a hotwalker, a job I began in my high school years. Days begin early at racetracks and getting to work required having a car. My parents had bought a second-hand 1967 Camaro convertible, Little Red (Big Red was a 1957 Pontiac Starchief, who had died a few years before.) and they lent her to me for that summer. Although she was in relatively poor condition, her red rust competed with the once fire engine red paint, and she guzzled gas and oil with an unquenchable thirst, she was fabulous. Driving to and from work with the top down could only be described as a thrill.

One evening, exhausted from a long day, I pulled into a self-service gas station to fill her up. Ready to pay, an attendant came over and asked, “Did you convert your car?” “Excuse me?” I replied. “Did you convert your car to diesel?’ he continued. “No, why?” I asked.”Well you just filled your car with diesel and if it hasn’t been converted I wouldn’t start it up.”

It took a few days to get Little Red back, negotiating rides to work was not an easy task.

I noticed some time thereafter, the size of the gas pump nozzles were changed. A mistake such as mine could no longer be made. But I am confident that that is one mistake I would not have made again anyway.

ENCOUNTERS

SOUND ADVICE

October 13, 2015 startsolo Leave a comment

Needing to stop off en route to a friend’s home, I was grateful to meet an amiable taxi driver who did not object to a quick detour and short wait. My companion went inside to purchase some items and I had time to hear his tale.

“I came from Pakistan twenty years ago. I got my MBA here, had a good business, got married, then things went bad. The business failed, my marriage failed. Now I drive a cab, but I am healthy, thank God, and happy.”

The man in his forties would intermittently look at me in the rearview mirror, but mostly gazed straight ahead.
“My father’s first business was selling fruit from a cart. He asked if he could park his cart in front of a store. Soon, he bought that store and then a few more. He was a very successful man. He had a wife, ten children. All of us went to school. My father was very strict and I came here to be free. But I remember the things he told me.”You make a decision and you stick with it. If it turns out that it’s not the right decision, then you make it right.” After my father died the family lost everything. There was the politics, the violence, hard times. I was already here. But they are okay now. Not like before, but okay.”

“I’ll start another business some day. I am sure.” he added.

We were soon setting off and arriving at our destination. We wished each other well.

I thanked him for his kindness and sharing his father’s sound advice.

START SOLO

Monthly Archives: October 2015