Welcome to Wisewomensworld
I’m back. The USA, wow, I can’t believe what a great time I had. Three weeks of fun, food, adventures and anything else you can think of!
But before I tell you a little of my travels, thank you to Lana who looked after you while I was missing. Congratulations to Gail O’Keefe too, on her book launch and to Lana who played a part in the proceedings.
MY CUP RUNNETH OVER
Yes, it was Melbourne Cup time again and guess what? – Not interested!!!!!!!
We had just arrived home from our holiday on Monday. The newspapers were full of the biggest horse race in Australia to be held on Tuesday. Normally I am abuzz with excitement myself, but this time my cup had simply runneth over.
My holiday had provided me with enough stimulation and excitement to keep me going for months!!
I decided, instead of attending a function or event, to visit my dad at the Hostel. I thought lunch would be over when I arrived, but oh no!!!! the big Melbourne Cup dinner was on. All the elderly and those from the dementia wing were sitting down to something akin to a Christmas dinner.
My dad waved me over for hugs and hellos and someone brought me a meal, which I politely declined. I sat down with a glass of punch though (non alcoholic but full of delicious fruit and mint). I looked around at all these gorgeous older people who had lived such long lives and saw lots of sad faces. This is where their life had brought them.
Could they have imagined in their wildest dreams they would end up in such a place.
I am proud to say we have managed to get my dad into a wonderful Hostel which is light, airy and has a homely feel. The staff work their butts off and my dad is constantly singing their praises as he needs full time care now. It is a very sobering feeling when you enter these premises and take a peek inside a world that could very well await us!
My dear old dad is mentally alert but his broken body is slowly making his life more and more difficult. I watch on with a sadness as he struggles to make the best of it all. Older old age is a difficult time but he always reminds me that there can still be joy.
THE LAND OF DUST AND DESERTS
AND A FEW OTHER THINGS!
Mr G and I travelled the west coast of the USA, California, Utah, Arizona and Nevada and I can’t believe how much desert there is. And the wind and the dust!!! I never had one good hair day! But I loved it all.
I guess one always has a preconceived idea of what to expect and I was delightfully surprised beyond my dreams.
The people we met, either socially or service people always seemed bright and happy. In fact I would go so far as saying ‘theatrical’. I guess each and every one of them is living in hope they ‘will be discovered’ and give it their all. I liked their approach!
I was sort of expecting to see the sword of Damocles’ hanging above the heads of all Americans due to the financial crisis. But no…things are seemingly bubbling along and as a guest to the country I certainly didn’t feel like America was suffering under the weight of financial ruin.
Let it be known, the tourists are oblivious to your woes!
And I saw no limit to the number of people who were working on the roads, parks, shopping centres, trains etc keeping them clean and painted. Poor old Los Angeles airport being the only ‘blot’!
As we were cruising around in the car we came across a massive amount of road building works, thanks to financial stimulus, but oh those hold ups along the way…..
Skies were blue, food in the shops was wonderful, people looked well dressed and were out enjoying themselves. And so were we.
A couple of interesting things that I will write about later:
Why do American women of ALL sizes insist on wearing shorts to Casinos?
Alcatraz - I reckon being a prisoner on a prime piece of real estate couldn’t have been that bad – could it!
The only people I saw giving to beggars were young black American males.
Sequoias - I hugged a 1,800 years old living giant and it wasn’t Mr G.
San Diego - Underrated and rarely highlighted, a beautiful little city.
Fun Parks - Yes, Mr G and I proved we can scream and laugh like 5 year olds.
Midway - A tour of an aircraft carrier was an absolute highlight.
Grand Canyon - From the air this wonder of the world is as a sight to behold.
Palm Springs - A place famous for glitz but we enjoyed the fantastic natural wonders that noone talks about.
Monument Valley - My favourite place of all was all about rocks and desert – the colour was mindblowing.
Now we are back on dry land and the real world sucks us back in. We do have our gorgeous memories though and dreams of future destinations.
Well, you always have to think about the next adventure, don’t you?
CLOTHES
I have to say that the clothing in the USA was fantastic. Even Mr G was into it and I spent countless hours in the men’s department due to his sudden interest. Oh the pain. But actually I was delighted to see Mr G relish with enthusiasm the purchase of interesting items for himself. And because of this I did get a chance to enjoy some time in the women’s boutiques to purchase for myself of course!
When we got back I browsed through a Myers catalogue and I couldn’t believe how boring the clothing was. No wonder we in Australia rarely look as sassy as our overseas counterparts. And I am not just talking about the high priced clothing either. Cheaper clothing was fun and fabulous and, would you believe it, stylish……
Maybe I was just going 'nuts' over the unusual and different, but I truly loved combing through the shops wishing I could buy up mountains of goodies. The suitcase only takes so much!
I thought the older women, on the whole, dressed well. I spent hours in the spa one evening in Palm Springs chatting to a couple of 60 year old women who were enjoying a weekend away. They were funny, interesting and even though they though they carried a few extra kilos, they cared enormously about their clothes, nails, hair and their enjoyment in life.
In fact, from my observations and conversations, I would have to say the American women take a greater interest in their presentation than Australian women. Sorry girls!!!
Mind you, the USA is a country whose main export is ‘stardom’ and so the desire to pull oneself up and try is everybody’s goal.
Come on Wise Women of Australia. Let get out there and bloom beautifully. Let’s get some style.
AUSTRALIAN BUSH FLOWER
ESSENCES
I took my trusty bottle of ‘Travel’ drops with me on my trip and it allowed me to cope easily. I didn’t sleep the first few nights when we reached the USA, but I was still about to bounce around and enjoy the days without fatigue. I thoroughly recommend them.
Also I am sure I talked the young hostess into trying the Electro Essence when she told me of her fear of the radiation she absorbed during her job. She was so desperate for the details she wrote them up and down her arm in biro.
There you are Ian, you might have the whole Qantas team purchasing it in bulk now!!!
Join Lana and I as we interview Ian: 
And for a UTube interview:
HALLOWEEN
It was dress up time and even the adults get into it! Well, you can’t let the kids have all the fun.
On our holiday the lead up to Halloween confronted us at every turn and it was mainly pumpkins. They were in gardens, shopping centres, cars – in fact decorating everything you could decorate with pumpkins. I saw so many I swore I was going to try pumpkin pie before I left. I never got the chance and feel hardly done by.
It was fun for us to see all the Halloween goings on as Australians do not embrace it with such fervor It is a shame really because it looks loads of fun. We were staying in Anaheim and California Disney was having a Halloween party and that meant every child and adult within cooeey was headed to Disneyland.
'Decorate yourself from the inside out' Andrei Turnhollow
CHRISTMAS – IS JUST AROUND
THE CORNER
Christmas is not far off and the shops are full of Christmas cheer. I do love this time even though it involves quite a bit of work. Have you made up your list of food purchases? Have you bought the presents? Have you organised the day? There is so much to think about as we prepare for the day.
If you would like to start preparing for a French Christmas Click here:
LANA’S WISE WEEK
Lana has been a busy lady too as you can see from her Wise Weeks. My heart goes out to her family as they struggle to find the medical answers for their grandson as they battle to save his leg. Visit Lana and find out what happened on her journey to Melbourne and so much more.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
I was busily looking for a quote that sums up how I am feeling at the moment and found this:
If you surrender to the wind, you can ride it.
Toni Morrison
I feel like I have been surrendering to the wind for the three weeks. I mean it literally too – the wind never stopped!!! But I was also being fully swept along on a magical journey.
So my advice is this, ‘Why not ‘Ride the wind’ all the time ladies’……
Life, I think, would be so much more thrilling….
Have a great week and I look forward to your company next time
