Monday, August 13, 2007

The Road Back

I have missed a few days blogging largely because I have been on the road constantly. After visiting my cousin and his wife, I went to Fredericksburg, VA and toured some of the battlefields there. My mother was the historian in the family, but I've always been moved by the horrible conflict that was the War Between the States.

Wilderness, Chancellorsville, and the battle of Fredericksburg are synonymous with the horrors of that conflict. But to see Gettysburg is something to behold. I toured there on Saturday afternoon. I've never been before. There's a two hour tour that describes the strategies of the armies, the losses, the civilian tragedies and the monuments erected on the battlefield. There are many monuments. The vista is beautiful but to be on that field of battle must have been hell on earth. I think that the most moving for me was to see the faces of the men on the wall in the Visitor's Center. So many who died so young.

Keeping in the historic vein, I went into DC and toured the Air and Space Museum and the Natural History Museum. I've been to both many times before but there is always something new to see. I think that the museums provided a diversion from visiting the battlefields and the afternoon spent with my cousin. It was nice to sit in the planetarium and gaze at the stars and see so many people, young and old, fascinated by the exhibits.

Now I'm back home and thankful for having a few days that provided a wide diversity of things to think about. I enjoyed every day of this trip. It was a chance to revisit some places where I had endless hours of fun when I was younger and a chance to visit new places that are totally thought provoking. And a chance to visit a person who shared my childhood with me. Lots of things to mull over for sure.

I hope to catch up on everyone tomorrow. Lately, time has flown by.

6 comments:

  1. You sound way too healthy for me.
    LOL

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  2. Syd,
    I am a history nut so I have been to so many battlefields and cemeteries I cannot even count them. I had two great great grandfathers who fought in the Civil War. The grandfather on my maternal side was at Gettysburg and has his name located on one of those monuments you saw. The other grandfather on my paternal side was a prisoner at Libby after being captured at Chancellorville. It sounds like you had a wonderful trip. Good for you.

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  3. sounds like your in a good place!!

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  4. Syd, your last several posts have really touched me. Thank you for sharing your experiences.

    ~Judith

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  5. the PA AlAnon convention is held in Gettysburg and I got there during my first 7 or 8 years in AlAnon-- it is a wonderfully historic and spiritual place.

    oh, I love to travel! And you were on this part of the east coast!

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