Travel Bug

Why a blog?
My original intent as I started this blog was to initiate discussion, push my opinions on others in an aggressive and bellicose fashion, and communicate to friends in other places what it is like to be me at any given moment. Like I foreshadowed in the very first of few entries, I doubted I would be faithful, and knowing myself as I do, it takes little introspection to see that I have fulfilled with swift lethargy.
BUT…as I read through my infantile blog, I was swept up in the emotions that guided my fingers in each entry. It was great. So, I am committing to 30 blogs in 30 days, the first being today…a blog within a blog.

Blog Within a Blog
Sandra and I have the “travel bug.” I remember my parents using that term—“travel bug,” when I was eight years old. If I had the financial means, I would allow myself intimate knowledge of the world through travel. I doubt I would live in any given place for more than a few years. Neither would Sandra.

Since this is an unattainable fantasy, Sandra and I compensate by going to ethnic festivals. Yesterday we and our four kids hit up the Greek American festival in old downtown Toledo. It’s worth the five dollar gyros and four dollar brews to be able to walk the streets of the Toledo Greek ghetto circa 1910 for a few hours.

Before we left Sandra had a hankering for baklava, so we headed into the Greek Orthodox church so she could satisfy her refined palate. While she stood in line, I perused the orthodox booths containing ethnic art, icons, and jewelry, and enjoyed the ruddy individuals selling the stuff. I loved the authenticity of the faith. No need for emergent relevance here—just an abiding love for scripture, faith, practice, and God. I came across an old woman, Greek born, selling Greek language classes. What a sweet woman…if I have ever seen the divine exuding from a tainted creation, it was her. As we discussed the difference between Koine and Modern Greek her face lit up. She gave me her phone number and said I MUST come to her class. And we will. When else will we have the opportunity to learn from someone’s native language experience?

My bubble almost burst when I mentioned this to a guy, a big movie buff, later that night at a birthday party. As I talked about my exciting experience, he laughed, and sarcastically exclaimed, “Why would you want to do that!” What the crap? Are you serious? Yeah, what was I thinking, a movie would be so much more fulfilling! Hollyweird would be much more self-enriching than gaining a better understanding of the sociolinguistic setting in which a world religious movement was birthed.

Anyway, I’m looking forward to learning Greek better, while satisfying my inner "travel bug" at the home of the sweet Greek grandma. And I am looking forward to stretching the limits of my gumption with the next 29 blogs. If anyone who actually reads this thing sees me dragging my feet, I wholeheartedly welcome verbal chastisement.