I don’t golf. Neither do I give a damn what “Tiger” is up to – on the course or off. Football is my drug of choice, although, these days I have no opportunity to watch the game anymore. With all due respect to golfers everywhere, golf is to football what your purring kitty cat is to a snarling saber-toothed tiger! I mean, let’s be honest, folks; when was the last time you saw golfers leave a pint of blood on the field or continue playing with a broken arm!? Golf is like gentlemen sitting in a polite circle sipping tea from tiny Limoges china cups – pinky fingers stuck in the air. Football is all the strategy and aggression of full-blown warfare. Bloodletting, carnage and casualties – with commercials! I Luv it, luv it, luv it!!
So, you might be surprised to learn that our family spent our recent vacation at a GOLF RESORT in West Virginia! Who wudda thunk it? As you might expect we had a great time and enjoyed the MUCH needed R&R. I learned a few things while surrounded by the ‘golf people.’ For one thing, as soon as the sun peaks over those mountains, the golfers are there – even in the rain! There are balls flying every which way all day until the sun goes down. One road on the resort even had a stop sign with a warning that people might be teeing off just as your car is passing. Oh yeah, we LOOKED both ways before crossing!
I have an “issue” with heights. Not being a John Denver fan, his famous song with the line “West Virginia, mountain MAMA” was the last thing on my mind when we booked this trip. In our neck of the woods, at Lakeview Resort in Morgantown, (where golfers reign supreme,) you are always either going UP a mountain or coming DOWN a mountain. There were, however, spectacular sights along the way. In Coopers Rock Sate park there were warm smiles and friendly folks to greet us ‘city slicker’ New Yorkers. Determined to confront and conquer my fear, I inched out onto a look-out point. I watched hawks circling in search of prey. The kicker was, we were so high up, we were looking DOWN on them from above!! Wow, what a sight.
In our travels into Maryland we visited a wonderful and rather large store on a quiet country road. Surprisingly, we discovered it was jammed with shoppers! It was a delightful place with lovely home decor pieces, Halloween, Christmas and other rustic, adorable things. The gentleman owner made it a point to welcome and tend to everyone present (quite the task considering how many people were there.) In the rear of his complex of three interconnected stores, there was a small farm with goats, chickens and llamas! It was a great attraction for the kids and he provided food for them to feed the animals. As we left we admired his pond which was presided over by statues of angels and – much to his credit – the god Pan. Evidently he is a liberal minded fellow without an intolerant bone in his body. Bless him.
All and all we had a wonderful time away from the world we knew back home. Now we are back and looking forward to a wonderful year ahead. Challenges and troubles, sure, we have them in spades. I have a feeling, though, that we have seen the worst of the fight. Cathy and I are looking ahead with anticipation of pleasanter times.
#1 by Dayna Whaley on August 28, 2010 - 7:23 am
“Q,”
I had hoped that you and Cathy had a great trip! I don’t exactly get “golf” either, but it means a lot to many people around me, particularly, my Uncle Pete, who sadly has now become legally blind due to diabetic complications. His dreams of golfing in his retirement have been put aside as je adjusts to this new way of life.
I too have a fear of heights, but I have been putting myself out there and I must say being in nature is a great distraction. Hiking last fall in New Paltz, NY, I found myself peering over increasingly rising cliffs to take in the fall foliage views as we rose to the top.
I love exploring while on vacation, which is much needed soon (!) and finding the little special nooks lesser known to the tourists. I had a similar experience the first time I entered Wizards at Cathy warmly greeted me, blue tooth in ear! : )