Bits and Pieces

I'm sitting in the business center of the airport hotel at London Heathrow Airport. What a day! All went well and it was a nice morning in Prague, although it was getting quite warm by the time I left. I had my driver for an hour and we went to see the dancing house, quite an interesting structure and I will have to do some research to find out more about it. My driver had very limited English so couldn't explain it to me. We visited Wensceles Square, not a square at all, and the most amazing site of all, the old Jewish cemetary. The experience was quite moving although I didn't have nearly long enough there. It is on the list of places to go back to on my next trip to Prague! Very moving and there were many other buildings that I didn't have time to see, next time!

My airport driver, all the way from Sacramento, picked me up and took me to the airport. It was like seeing an old friend and we had a great conversation and he was so happy with all of the things I'd done, many of which he had suggested. What an interesting man he is! The flight to London was quite uneventful, although I did sit next to a Czech football (soccer) player on his way to some pro games somewhere in England for 5 days and then to S. Africa for 10. Obviously not World Cup games, but he was very kind and definitely a professional player. He only spoke Czech so our communication was quite limited, but he kindly got my luggage down for me and helped.

Have I mentioned how interesting it is to be traveling the world while the World Cup is happening? Oh my, it is the talk of the world! On the giant outdoor screen on the ship there was a game almost every night rather than the usual movies. The most amazing night was when the UK played US, almost all of the people on the ship were from one or the other countries. The deck was filled, and so were the 3 decks above it, every deck chair occupied and standing room only all over, a most amazing sight! It is the talk of the world, and I found out the game that was getting so much attention yesterday was Slovakia, since Czech has no team they support their neighbor and what emotion there was in the square. I found out it only happens every 4 years and the thrill everywhere in a way reminds me of the Olympics, but it is different. And now even I am starting to care about who is winning and who is playing who. When I was in Lisbon, Portugal had played that day and tied so cars were driving around honking and waving the flag. Such a celebration all over!

Another bit of story...
About 80ish years ago my mother was a little girl growing up on a street called McDuffie in Houston, Texas. I was always told the story of how the neighbor had a cat named Mitzi and she loved the name and said if she had a daughter she would name her Mitzi. And she did. Several years ago I was in San Antonio and introduced to another Mitzi. After talking a bit, we discovered that we had known each other, her father had grown up as a neighbor to my mom and they and the families got together a few times as we grew up. The story she was told however, was a bit different. She was told she was named after a neighbor's dog that was named Mitzi. Both of our parents had died so there was no way to investigate the true story. I told her I liked mine and she liked hers so we decided to just keep the ones we'd been told our whole lives...WELL, when I was walking on the Charles Bridge in Prague I found a small abstract blue painting I liked. The artist was there so I asked if he would sign it for me. He spoke very little English but his friend was there and helped translate. He asked me to write down my name so I did and the artist laughed and they were talking to each other. I asked the man why they laughed and he said that the word Mitzi is the nickname for a beloved kitty! Could my mother's neighbors have been Czech? I'll never know but I think the question has been answered! They enjoyed the story that I had been named after a cat anyway. I talked to the sweet girl at reception at my hotel and she said it is the dearest term for a kitty and she had thought of that when she saw my name but didn't say anything. So many stories tied to my simple name!

Well, time to head to bed so I will be rested for my 10 hour flight home to reality. I just want to be cool again! This hotel was nice enough to bring me a fan because the air conditioning isn't that cold.

Another thought to share, on a sadder note...about my blog and more. I write this as a journal and do a little reflecting while writing but usually that comes later. Friends are reading this and I hope that it comes through as more than a telling of tales, although they are all true. I know that we all have different gifts in our lives, I am not lucky enough to have the gift of a family, but I have made the very best out of my life by finding another passion. For years it was teaching and it still is in so many ways. But travel has also become my passion and my creative thinking and planning go to great use in this area of my life. I'm not sure the travel is what is so important, but the idea that I do all I can to make each day matter is the important lesson. (even if this is only when traveling it seems) I want to do it all, in every place I go, and usually I succeed in seeing and doing many incredible things and meeting many wonderful people. It doesn't just happen, I make it happen. I hope this inspires others to live their lives to the fullest each day, and appreciate the gifts you have, be it travel or families to love. Recently I had the very sad news that a young dear friend lost her battle with breast cancer. She only had a very short time with her beautiful little boy, he is just 5 months old, but she fought every day to do all she could to be with him as long as possible. I don't know the whole story that has happened in the short time I've been gone, but please take a moment to honor Sarah and be sure to live each day to the fullest, knowing that we don't know what tomorrow will bring so make today special! A long time ago while working at Barnes & Noble I read a quote in a little book that said, "Live your life so that, on the very last day, you can say, THERE, THAT WAS A GOOD LIFE". Make the most of your life and the days you have and smile and make others smile and do it all!!!

And once again thank you for joining me on my journey of discovery!