Remembering

Every year on September 11 I hear the question asked, do you remember where you were when you learned of the terrorist attacks on 9/11. The generation before me can answer that question in regards to the assassination of JFK. When I think back to my childhood the "big" events that I recall included when President Reagan was shot, when Princess Di was married, when the Berlin wall came down, and the explosion of the Challenger. In my earlier years as a university professor, 9/11 was definitely the "big" event that generation would speak of when asked that question. Considering it was 18 years ago, I doubt that 18-21 year olds have any recollection of that event. I learned about 9/11 when I answered the telephone in my office at the Christian school where I was a principal. Our middle schoolers were on an overnight outdoor education trip, and the parents of kids on that trip were the first to begin calling me when they saw what happened with the twin towers on TV. I turned on the radio to keep abreast and told the teachers about it during their lunch break. I also called the that took place during their childhood will stand out in our kids' minds when they are adults.

outdoor education retreat center and informed them of what was going on as well. Time will tell what event

There are times when Oliver asks me, "what is this?," and it makes me laugh. That happened last week on our New York getaway. He pointed to a landline telephone and asked that question. Yep to my kids the only kind of phone they are familiar with is a cell phone. He asked me what all the phone could do. Yes, the kids expect a phone to do more than *just* call someone. In my childhood I used rotary phones and phone booths in addition to the touch tone phone he saw in the hotel room. I remember how large and heavy those first cordless phones were and what a novelty that was at that time.

There are other times when Oliver asks, "who is this?," and I want to cry. He pointed to a photo magnet featuring a picture of my parents and pointed to my mom when he asked that question. He was one month shy of four years old when she passed away, and so I have always assumed it was unlikely

he'd have any memories of her in adulthood, but still it pierced my heart. I so badly wish he remembered her. Of course mom never even met Wesley, her youngest grandchild. I'm guessing it's also unlikely that Micah, Grace, or Julianna will have memories of her when they are adults.

I certainly don't remember every place we went on vacation when I was a child, but I do have very positive memories about our family vacations, and I hope the same is true for our kids when they are adults. I've started doing some planning for next year. In light of our reduced income we need to have a smaller vacation budget. I'm trying to see how far I can stretch $1,100 over the course of 2020. I *think* I can stick to that budget and still take the kids on a ten day trip in April (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan), a seven day trip to Long Island in July, and a family vacation for six days in late August to New York, Ottawa, Quebec City, Montreal, and Vermont. I am not including gas or tolls in that budget just lodging, admission

fees, and dinners. It helps that #1 out of the 21 nights we would be staying elsewhere, 13 of those would be with relatives, #2 we can get into many museums for free with our ASTC membership, and we can get into national parks for free since Ian is in 4th grade. Hopefully in 2020 the kids will be adding a few more states (and one Canadian province) to their life list. They've driven through Indiana before, but we didn't stop and do anything in the state in 2017. On our trip to Chicago I'm hoping to stop in Indiana on the way out there, take a day trip to Milwaukee while we're staying with my sister and her family, and spend a couple days in Detroit on the way home. That will add three states to their list - Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan. Ohio and Illinois are already on their list.  We'll be studying other countries and cultures in social studies during the next school year, which is why I want to visit more of Canada. That's the cheapest country to visit from where we live. They were in Canada for one day last August. In addition to spending a little more time in Ontario, we will also hopefully

spend time in Quebec. On that trip I'm hoping to add Vermont to their life lists, as they've already been to MA and NY. I'm hoping the kids will earn at least seven more Junior Ranger badges in 2020; right now I'm thinking we will visit Indiana Dunes (IN), Fort Stanwix (NY), Sagamore Hill (NY), Springfield Armory (MA), Ford's Theatre (DC), National Mall (DC), and Martin van Buren (NY). The kids have earned 13 thus far, and if all goes as planned they will earn five more at Civil War sites by November 27, 2019 (Antietam, Manassas, Petersburg, Richmond, and Appomattox). When Oliver is a fourth grader (September 2021- August 2022) that is when I hope we take a trip out west that is focused on national parks!