Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
philo
Trad climber
Is that light the end of the tunnel or a train?
|
|
|
Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 1, 2013 - 10:00am PT
|
This is a Travel Report.
The cat in the case above is how i feel about the airport experience anymore, but more on that later. This is about my wonderful daughter moving to New Zealand.
Heading in to International check in. This is all my hippie chick daughter is taking with her for a year or more in New Zealand.
Here she is finding out how very helpful airline folks can be.
This lady was a gem.
I think I can, I think I can.
I can!
So given the circumstances the airline & airport let me take Amber all the way to the departure gate. Just like in the good old days last century. That was nice because Amber really wanted the company of an experienced traveller and calm person at the out set of her first International adventure. But given the presence of a bunch of surgical bling in my body I set off the bells and whistles at security. Amber and I had just stripped our possessions into the plastic buckets and were approaching the metal detector when I said, "Amber, watch I am going to make the machine go BING". And it did. Well instead of the usual pat down, wanding and explanation of my prosthetics, this time they took extra special interest in me personally. There was my sweet, already anxious little girl watching her daddy be escorted off to a security closet by two large surly looking dudes in uniforms with badges.
Well they gave me the once, twice and thrice over. I didn't have to do the "Full Monty" and at least they didn't feel it necessary to give me the full "Where's Waldo" treatment. I was cleared with the only "thumbs up" being me told I was good to go. Woo Hoo let's hear it for modern air travel and the friendly skies.
So a little note for those wondering what in the world this kid is up to. Amber is involved with an International organization known as W.O.O.F. The World Organization of Organic Farms. She will be working on and learning about sustainable organic farming. This program is applicable to University credits and operates around the globe. Google it, it is a very cool organization. This is really about my "birthday" daughter wanting to be part of the solution. And I thought you would like to know I think we are in good hands.
Leavin' home, out on the road
I've been down before
Ridin' along in this big ol' jet plane
I've been thinkin' about my home
But my love light seems so far away
And I feel like it's all been done
Somebody's tryin' to make me stay
You know I've got to be movin' on
Oh, Oh big ol' jet airliner
Don't carry me too far away
Oh, Oh big ol' jet airliner
Cause it's here that I've got to stay
Goodbye to all my friends at home
Goodbye to people I've trusted
I've got to go out and make my way
I might get rich you know I might get busted
But my heart keeps calling me backwards
As I get on the 707
Ridin' high I got tears in my eyes
You know you got to go through hell
Before you get to heaven
Big ol' jet airliner
Don't carry me too far away
Oh, Oh big ol' jet airliner
Cause it's here that I've got to stay
Touchin' down in New England town
Feel the heat comin' down
I've got to keep on keepin' on
You know the big wheel keeps on spinnin' around
And I'm goin' with some hesitation
You know that I can surely see
That I don't want to get caught up in any of that
Funky sh#t goin' down in the city
Big ol' jet airliner
Don't carry me too far away
Oh, Oh big ol' jet airliner
Cause it's here that I've got to stay
Oh, Oh big ol' jet airliner
Don't carry me too far away
Oh, Oh big ol' jet airliner
Cause it's here that I've got to stay
Yeah, yeah yeah, yeah
Big ol' jet airliner
Don't carry me too far away
Oh, Oh big ol' jet airliner
Cause it's here that I've got to stay
Oh, Oh big ol' jet airliner
Carry me to my home
Oh, Oh big ol' jet airliner
Cause it's there that I belong Steve Miller Jet Airliner Lyrics
|
|
climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
|
|
New Zealand? Very cool. Doubt there is a cooler, more awesome, safer and beautiful place for a young gal to stretch her wings.
Long way from home. But I'm sure you are proud.
|
|
dirtbag
climber
|
|
Beautiful--I can only begin to imagine how proud you must be of her.
|
|
philo
Trad climber
Is that light the end of the tunnel or a train?
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 1, 2013 - 11:13am PT
|
Thank you all. Yes I am proud of my beautiful girl. Born 18 years ago on my birthday now flying into her own. 50 minutes till touch down in Fiji. I hope she can make contact. I am a wee anxious.
|
|
Gilroy
Social climber
Bolderado
|
|
Aahhhh! A father's dreams for his daughter... To save the world one salad at a time.
Travel safely, Amber.
KG
|
|
Rhodo-Router
Gym climber
sawatch choss
|
|
You gotta let 'em go sometime Philo. Be brave.
|
|
Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
|
|
My sister employs WOOFers on her organic farm in eastern B.C. every summer.
It's a great program for the kids and the farmers both.
That's a great way to leave home and New Zealand's perfect.
Far away but safe and not too exotic.
|
|
Mark Hudon
Trad climber
Hood River, OR
|
|
From the minute they're born we're teaching them how to survive without us.
|
|
survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
|
|
Way to go Proud Papa!
Way to go Amber! Stretch those wings!
Philo, I have an old friend with a ranch on South Island. His wife is American, from Wyoming.
PM me if you want me to try and help with a hook up.
Peace
B
From the minute they're born we're teaching them how to survive without us.
An old dude I worked for in the military used to say "You spend the first three years trying to teach 'em to stand up and talk, and the next fifteen trying to teach 'em to sit down and shut up!"
|
|
philo
Trad climber
Is that light the end of the tunnel or a train?
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 1, 2013 - 11:40am PT
|
Mark Hudon wisely posted;
From the minute they're born we're teaching them how to survive without us.
Mark that is so true. I think i have done a fair to good job on that front. Now who will teach me the corollary? only 20 minutes till touchdown.
Yes Survival I will contact you for that contact. You are the greatest.
|
|
Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
|
|
Wow!
I bet that reminds a lot of people here of the day when they were 18, or 17 or whatever, and they walked out of their parents' home and into that vast, unknown, exciting future. Like your daughter, we probably thought we knew where we were going, but like us, she'll probably find out that the road forks, and that time after time, the lure of what lies on the unknown fork will be too much to resist.
But that's what life is all about, isn't it.
Best wishes to her, it sounds like she's got a great opportunity.
|
|
SCseagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
|
|
From the minute they're born we're teaching them how to survive without us.
Yes, and probably harder, is we must learn to survive without them....
Great launching, Philo...she's lovely
Susan
|
|
Anastasia
climber
InLOVEwithAris.
|
|
I am so excited for her and... As a parent, I feel your pain. You are a great man to be able to support her and at the same time let her go. I agree, a safe place to grow, explore, and be apart. Good news is she's coming back and that's everything.
AFS
|
|
scooter
climber
fist clamp
|
|
That is a funny line of thought, travel on an airplane and use tons of natural resources and create extra pollution as well as feed the machine of giant corporations in order to learn how to be an organic farmer in Southern latitudes similar to those found in CA and Washington....There is a WOOfer program above Jackson CA. That being said, if I were going to go on vacation for a year, NZ. would be one of my choices too. She will have quite and adventure.
|
|
philo
Trad climber
Is that light the end of the tunnel or a train?
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 1, 2013 - 12:26pm PT
|
Plane on the ground waiting to hear.......crickets.
Scooter i knew someone would raise that point and there is some carbon footprint weight to it.
The reality is that that infrastructure already exists and is being improved and more efficient all the time. We are learning, as Buckminster Fuller said, "to get more from less" all the time. Which is a good thing. Seeing a broader world perspective and creating friendships and working collaborations across International frontiers is an invaluable growth experience. Too many Americans are far too insular in their view and understanding of the world. This will hardly be a vacation for my daughter. This will be real work and real learning.
|
|
Beatrix Kiddo
Mountain climber
ColoRADo
|
|
Nice Phil. Every girl needs a loving father. And the world certainly needs more organic farmers. My oldest is 17. He's a senior. I get anxious when he goes to Red Rocks concerts! We haven't experienced his departure to foreign countries...yet.
|
|
philo
Trad climber
Is that light the end of the tunnel or a train?
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 1, 2013 - 01:06pm PT
|
Ghost posted this and it was so 'real' that i warranted it was worth a top o the page re-post bump.
I bet that reminds a lot of people here of the day when they were 18, or 17 or whatever, and they walked out of their parents' home and into that vast, unknown, exciting future. Like your daughter, we probably thought we knew where we were going, but like us, she'll probably find out that the road forks, and that time after time, the lure of what lies on the unknown fork will be too much to resist.
Here is the BLOG her and her friend Moriah have started if you care to follow along.
http://ambermoriah.tumblr.com/
|
|
SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
|
|
AWESOME, Philo!
|
|
scooter
climber
fist clamp
|
|
I used the word "vacation" but I didn't mean it in a laying on the beach sort of way. Nor was I really knocking travel. I just like the circuitous nature that some people take to take a trip. What is the old saying? If you like what you do you will never work a day in your life. With that being said, I hope she is on vacation until she is in her 70's!
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!