Author: Meg Noble Peterson Page 20 of 30

I have always traveled spontaneously and, as my children like to say, “by the seat of my pants.” That’s all well and good, going from place to place with my nose in a guide book as I try to figure out where to stay and what points of interest to visit, but more and more I find that my travel experience is richer when I delve into the culture and history of an area before arriving. Obvious, you say. Not so for the majority of travelers. They get so caught up in the details of what to take and how much—plus shots, money, visas–that they lose sight of the fact that they will be faced with a new culture,  a new set of rules, and very likely—if they go off the beaten track—with the need to know the rudiments of a new language. And, folks, that’s the real fun of it!  I found a rather obscure book about Burma, or Myanmar, before visiting that country in 2007. I ended up with a respect for its rich and troubling history that no guidebook could possibly convey. It talked about the democracy movement and the years of upheaval under British rule, and the conditions leading to the present repressive government. It made me eager to talk with the people, and gave me some knowledge of their struggle far above the tourist sampling of temples and monuments. I’ve been doing the same for my upcoming trip to the Grand Canyon and adjacent national parks with my two grandsons this June. They’re young and eager to know about the geological and early American history of these rugged lands loaded with Native American history and the amazing adventures of the first settlers. It will not be the pristine experience so beautifully documented by Ken Burns, for it’s summer and the whole world heads West to our national monuments. But it will be more than just pretty pictures of rock formations. It will be the unfolding of a special place in this great land that is unique in our history and worth our reverence and respect.

So my simple rule #6 is to spend some time at your local bookstore or library and steep yourself in whatever place you’re visiting. Don’t try to cover the waterfront…take one country at a time and dig deep. Know something about their leaders, their writers, their customs. You will be rewarded by a new appreciation of your fellow human beings, wherever they live, and your eagerness and willingness to learn about them will be met with open arms. Trust me.

A word to the wise to young women, especially, who have come of age in an American society where just about anything goes, including exposed belly buttons, mini-skirts, and skin tight T’s and jeans. This applies as well to young men who like to hang their baggy pants halfway to their knees, caused, they say, by forgetting to put on a belt. Not only is that sloppy, but it gives a vulgar impression of America, which may seem an old-fashioned thing to say, but take it from a world traveler, it doesn’t help you if you want to win friends and get to know another country.  And those low-cut T’s are especially inappropriate in countries like India, where most of the men are trying to “make you happy” anyway. Don’t make it worse, especially if you’re a single woman. They’re fair game, as I’ve said many times before from personal experience. And age makes no difference. In Asia, older is better. That’s nice, but it can have its drawbacks.

I’m going mad with preparations for an exciting and challenging summer in New Hampshire, Whidbey Island, and Vancouver Island, but I did manage to see a few of Broadway’s best. Top of the list, and a birthday present from Paul Sharar, is Red, the new play about the painter, Mark Rothko, starring the superb Alfred Molina and newcomer Eddie Redmayne. Don’t miss it.  It was also a treat to visit with my former daughter-in-law, Andrea Giammattei, with whom I saw White”s Lies, not the greatest drama, but it starred Andrea’s old teacher, Betty Buckley, who is always a delight to see. Once again I saw God of Carnage, and enjoyed the new cast: Janet McTeer, who was so powerful in the classic Mary Stuart last season, Jeff Daniels, who played a different role this time around, Lucy Liu, and Dylan Baker. This time I took Judy Wyman and grandson Thomas Bixler. If I really like a show, I want to share it. It’s my weakness and my joy.

Just for fun I’m posting some photos of my grandson, Thomas Bixler, who has spent the last few days sealing my back deck, pulling weeds, and refurbishing the wrought-iron railing in front of the house. After all, what are grandchildren for? It’s quite an experience supervising a close relative, especially one who sees no reason why drops of brown primer are unattractive on cement pedestals and sidewalks. So much easier than fiddling with drop clothes. It was fiery at times, but fussy grandmothers usually win, and it’s nice that children are so forgiving. I’ve decided to trade perfection for good company.

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Can anything be accomplished without an iPod?

Christopher’s ferns

I missed photographing the rhododendrons because of rain, but there

are always coriopsis, spirea, salvia, and a host of geraniums.

I want to share with you the last day of winter climbing as the temperatures unexpectedly soared to 80 degrees, catching these winter tableaus unaware. In just one day the laurel is starting to blossom and the maple and dogwood buds have appeared. But you can see by the following pictures that the woods of New York State were still transparent, mysterious, and barren, and the slabs of granite free of foliage. I can’t wait to return and show the unfolding of spring.

We trudged through numerous swollen streams

The rocks on the Red Dot trail

One of the many abandoned iron mines from the Revolutionary War

A lone survivor of the harsh winter storms

Nature's haunting designs

With Bernard, the photographer, at Harriman's answer to Times Square, a confluence of trails

Water, water everywhere....

This question was asked by Eric Daniel Metzger, the director of a new film, Reporter, (HBO documentary, premiered Feb. 18) about how the writer and NYTimes op ed columnist Nicholas Kristoff finds his stories in the heart of the Congo, honing in on one individual at a time, whose suffering is so great that it outrages the reader enough to inspire action. I saw this interview on David Brancaccio’s excellent program, NOW (Feb. 12).

We are living at a time when the daily news is so horrific that we’re shutting down to tragedy and settling into a kind of psychic numbness, finding it more and more difficult to think or care deeply about people and issues that are half a world away.

Kristoff and Sheryl WuDunn have written a book, Half the Sky, which deals with violence toward women worldwide and what women are doing to turn their despair into prosperity. Many of the solutions in poverty-stricken and war torn Congo are being initiated by courageous and determined women against all odds; women who have suffered through the worst fighting since WWII, been repeatedly raped, their children kidnapped, their homes destroyed. This devastation has lasted seven years with more than four million dead. I recommend that you read this disturbing, powerful , and inspirational book.

When David asked what we can do to help the people suffering in this war, the answer came: “Figure out what moves you most and take your own path. Look on line under Congo Crisis/Help.” I did this and the first thing that came up was Women For Women International. My eyes were opened. There are so many things we can do.

Nicholas Kristoff and Sheryl WuDunn are speaking at my high school alma mater, Emma Willard, in Troy, NY, on Feb. 23^rd. Last year at this time I wrote about Greg Mortenson’s presentation at the same venue. I congratulate E.W. on introducing their students to such important world issues.

The only difference I can think of is that I was the only person on cross-country skis I encountered during my five-mile circuit between my daughter Martha’s house and mine. It was a veritable blizzard, so maybe they passed me in the white out.  And oh, it was so beautiful! You know, winter wonderland and all that, with eight inches of snow weighing the evergreens down so you had to duck beneath a canopy as you glided by. The roads hadn’t been fully plowed (one pass a winter does not make…or something like that) and if a lone car or a plow happened by I simply dived into the nearest snow bank. On one occasion, coming back in the dark and wearing my headlamp, a plow came within two inches of me. Scary. I can still move fast when my mortality stares me in the face.

I know, this is child’s play compared to Washington, DC, but it was also manageable, for which I’m grateful. Here is my proof.

Isn’t this just like life?

First you’re up….

Then you’re down. And so it goes…

For some videos of this perfect day, go to Martha’s blog, which you can find on her website: www.essentialsomatics.com She has some really good ideas for exercise in a snowstorm.

Hat’s off to my grandson, Adam Bixler, 17, who is the tympanist and percussionist for the Youth Orchestra of Essex County, which toured Austria last summer. He performed on drums Saturday night at the Hat City Kitchen in Orange, NJ, sitting in for a couple of numbers with my son-in-law, Gary Shippy’s, band, Walk The Dog. It was a swinging evening all around.

Interesting tidbit: Orange is called Hat City because it was the manufacturing center for Stetson hats in bygone days. Surely some of you out there remember Stetson hats.

For those of you who love opera, let me recommend the recent HD performance from the Metropolitan Opera of Bizet’s Carmen, starring the stunning Elina Garanca as Carmen and the masterful Roberto Alagna as Don Jose.    It’s being shown in specified theaters around the country and is the most superb Carmen I’ve ever seen. Acting, singing, staging. It’s another flawless production by Richard Eyre. See it if you can.

Are you tired of winter? Do gray days and freezing temperatures make your bones creek? Well, lighten up, throw off the gloom, and kick up your heels the way you did during those glamorous, carefree days of yore…the irrepressible 60’s.

My daughter, Martha, attended a party, dressed like Judy Carne from Laugh-In, that great comedy show from the late 60’s and early 70’s. She was the perfect “sock it to me” girl, using my old Barbie bubble wig, which she said resembled road kill after getting it out of the children’s dress-up box, and one of my classic frocks, waiting in line to be sold on e-Bay. The orange wooden necklace, incredibly ugly earrings, and boots are also mine. Authentic, or wot? See…it pays to be a pack rat!

Feast your eyes on my beautiful baby. And enjoy reminiscing.

Sock it to me!

It’s been awhile since I gave you a theater update, so here goes. I enjoyed Carrie Fisher in her one-woman show, Wishful Drinking, and a new play by the always-challenging David Mamet, Race, but the highlight of the season for me was Part 3 of Horton Foote’s magnificent trilogy, The Orphan’s Cycle at the Signature Theater.I look forward to seeing Part 1 and 2 before it closes. I don’t know any other playwright who has captured the voice, dreams, and sorrows of everyday Americans like Foote. He will be sorely missed.

Old friend, Carol Goodman, paid us a visit from her new home in Williamstown, MA, and we spent a delightful evening at the theater. We enjoyed Donald Margulies’ new play, Time Stands Still with an excellent acting ensemble led by Laura Linney, Eric Bogosian, and Brian D’Arcy James, and finished up with the hilarious Love, Loss, and What I Wore by Nora Ephron and her daughter, Delia. Carol and I wear our theater addiction well.

I haven’t forgotten Rule 6 for intrepid travelers. Tune in next time….