The World's 100 Greatest Places

 

Botswana

My new Time magazine features its third annual list of the world's greatest places based, primarily, on their tribute to the people and businesses who, despite our world wide pandemic, found ways to flourish.  They range from Estonia to Antarctica. 

I've never heard of some of these places.  I'd like to see a few but it looks like my global adventures are over.  However I have friends on Facebook who continue to share their own adventures and I love going with them on my armchair ride.  

Portugal

A few years ago, when I was in Portugal, I would have loved to see, and even walk across, the world's longest suspension bridge in Arouca,  but it wasn't on our route.  I'll bet the folks in the photo here are bonding like crazy.  

Only a handful of places in the United States made the cut and most of them are surprising.  What's not surprising is that Orlando (my city) is listed. But that's because every most person in the world would like to visit the Mouse.  

Indianapolis

What was totally surprising is that my hometown, Indianapolis, more specifically, the Bottleworks District, is featured.  When I lived there in the 1950's the Coca-Cola bottling plant was a big deal.  The Bottleworks Hotel now resides in the building, complete with Art Deco design and restored spiral staircase.  My niece Sheri and sister-in-law, Sandy, live in Indianapolis.  Sandy's not well and I was actually thinking about her when I picked up the magazine and read the article - about Indianapolis.  How strange is that?

And that's what makes places so dear to us.  Being reminded of a personal connection. 

Estonia

And speaking of personal connections, a few years ago my husband David and I spent a fantastic day in Tallinn, Estonia.  It's a perfect example of preserving the old while creating the new.  Estonia is home to one of the world's leading digital economies but has retained its medieval city center. 

Almost every country in the world has a multitude of riches.  And chief among the riches are its people. 

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Breaking the Rules

 

My church, First United Methodist of Winter Park, is in the midst of a new summer sermon series called "Happily Ever After."  It's based on the Bible and Disney movies.  I'm not a fan of Disney films so I'm at somewhat of a disadvantage.  It appears to me that I am the only person in the congregation has not seen these movies.

Mulan was last Sunday's film.  She defies her aging father and replaces him, disguising herself as a man, to serve her country in his place by becoming a fierce warrior.  Mulan is based on an ancient Chinese legend but the "woman warrior" theme has been around in many cultures, for a very long time. Think Joan of Arc. 

We women have come a long way.  But we have a ways to go.  If you've read my book, New Day, you know that I've fought some battles, though nothing like Mulan.  

When I was a minister's wife for several decades I never once considered myself "Queen of the Parsonage."  I always had dreams and aspirations that could not be squashed down to the size of a casserole dish.  I never understood the rigid gender rules.  One of the poems in the book speaks to this issue. 

THE LADY AND THE GAME

You have let me know that I have displeased you,  I have not played the game according to the rules, 

Honestly, I have tried.

It is not simply that we are from different generations,  Or that we are from different worlds.

We are not even in the same realm of consciousness. 

I do not understand the game,  But if i did,  I am certain, still, that I could not play. 

I wrote the poem decades ago but I can still relate to it.  As Pastor Rachel was closing her sermon on Philippians  she reminded us of the the defining moment for Mulan where she removes her hair comb (symbolizing her traditional path into female submissive adulthood,) and, in its place, picks up her father's scroll. 

Paster Rachel left us with this challenge:  What will you put down?    What will you pick up in its place?

I've been thinking about this all week. 

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(New Day is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target and Warmart.)

I Still Love Florida Stories

Over the years I've written several postings with variations on the title "Why I Love Florida."  They dealt with the crazy things we Floridians do. 

I gave it up for two reasons. First, the "Florida Man" meme was introduced so it keeps us abreast of  the weird and wonderful stories that make us Floridians unique.  And there is now a TV series titled "Florida Man Murders."  

The theme for the TV show is murder but the more frequent stories are about us regular folks doing really wacky and stupid things.  And it's more interesting if they're naked.  Not for any sexual reason, but just because Floridians like to take off their clothes in public.  And it's not just Florida men.  For instance, I once wrote about the county cracking down on squatters.  A policeman knocked on the door of a suspected squatter.  A naked woman opened the door.  There was a scuffle and the cop had to call for backup.  This was a perfect example of my "Why I Love Florida" series. 

But the second and more important  reason I stopped writing about them is because, in the end, they are almost all sad stories of sad people making wacky, horrible decisions (usually inspired by drugs) that have life-long repercussions.  

All this being said.....I can't resist sharing the following story that appeared in the Orlando Sentinel a week or so ago about a happening in my little community, Altamonte Springs.  

Police were called to a small market where they found the sales clerk shirtless and covered in blood. He told the cops that a man came into the store upset about a transaction that had transpired earlier in the day. The man started to pull something out of his pocket, but, fortunately, the clerk had a weapon.  Unfortunately, his weapon was a machete. And, unfortunately, the clerk injured himself with it while trying to defend himself with it.   The fight lasted several minutes and involved crashing into the portable ice cream machine. At some point the customer's brother  ran into the store and things got worse.

All three men were taken to the hospital for treatment and all were released.  The man and his brother are at the county jail on a $35,000 bond. 

As it turns out, the argument was about a bag of chips. 

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