We are ready to visit the Native American Museum at the Smithsonian. Yesterday, the dry run to the rail stop went well. The actual trip began with a new adventure. The rural folks went to the city. Their willingness to engage in new adventures is commendable. Their ineptness is sometimes pathetic. I don't want to use names, but the male in this traveling duo boldly stepped up to the platform, reviewed the directions to purchase and validate the tickets. A simple process, or so it seems. Two slots - one for credit cards, another for the tickets, each clearly marked to help make the procedure go smoothly and quickly.
The gentleman from the Oregon Country steps up and smugly tells himself, "I know how to do this. We'll be on the train momentarily."
Do you know what happens when you insert your credit card in the ticket slot?
The slot pauses, considers the options and swallows the card. The traveler swallows the feeling of panic and realizes this is the perfect time to practice the Navajo spiritual practice of Hozho - find harmony in the present situation.
Hozho or not, that machine has my credit card. We have no tickets. I took a chance and tried not to be a two time loser and withdrew another credit card, carefully inserted it into the correct slot and got two tickets to the Smithsonian. A phone call to the Virginia Railway Express was next. I asked for reassurance that my credit card was secure, or destroyed, and that I was not the only idiot that could not Tell the difference between "insert card" and "insert ticket".
The return phone call was incredible. I was assured the they would send an employee out to Manassas to retrieve the card and send it to me via mail. Secondly, other people have made the same mistake and I need not feel like a damn fool, maybe a little foolish would be appropriate.
The Smithsonian Native American was interesting, not the historical presentation we had expected. Indian culture and Indians in our modern world were represented - the past carried into the future.
While it would have been understandable to present the treatment and losses the Native Americans experienced at the hands of the European settlers, the presentation focused on carrying their heritage into the future. this is another example of Hozho. We can not change what happened, we can only manage our thoughts and actions today - bring harmony to the present. No value in whining about the past. No value in worrying about the future. Create the harmony in the present. A very healthy position!!
We were pleased to see the Indian Foods label on products for sale in the Smithsonian. The label was on products made and packaged in Canyonville, Oregon by the Cow Creek Indians back home.
I hope to bring our grandsons, Tyler and Trey, to visit the display when they can understand the power and prestige the museum displays. They are enrolled members of the Siletz tribe from the Oregon Coast area. It is something they will be able to view with pride in their heritage.
On to visit our daughter and son in law, Kate and Kevin, before resuming the trip. I get to hug a redhead, love and laugh with two wonderful people, shower in a big shower and sleep in a normal bed. A few days of family time.
The gentleman from the Oregon Country steps up and smugly tells himself, "I know how to do this. We'll be on the train momentarily."
Do you know what happens when you insert your credit card in the ticket slot?
The slot pauses, considers the options and swallows the card. The traveler swallows the feeling of panic and realizes this is the perfect time to practice the Navajo spiritual practice of Hozho - find harmony in the present situation.
Hozho or not, that machine has my credit card. We have no tickets. I took a chance and tried not to be a two time loser and withdrew another credit card, carefully inserted it into the correct slot and got two tickets to the Smithsonian. A phone call to the Virginia Railway Express was next. I asked for reassurance that my credit card was secure, or destroyed, and that I was not the only idiot that could not Tell the difference between "insert card" and "insert ticket".
The return phone call was incredible. I was assured the they would send an employee out to Manassas to retrieve the card and send it to me via mail. Secondly, other people have made the same mistake and I need not feel like a damn fool, maybe a little foolish would be appropriate.
The Smithsonian Native American was interesting, not the historical presentation we had expected. Indian culture and Indians in our modern world were represented - the past carried into the future.
While it would have been understandable to present the treatment and losses the Native Americans experienced at the hands of the European settlers, the presentation focused on carrying their heritage into the future. this is another example of Hozho. We can not change what happened, we can only manage our thoughts and actions today - bring harmony to the present. No value in whining about the past. No value in worrying about the future. Create the harmony in the present. A very healthy position!!
We were pleased to see the Indian Foods label on products for sale in the Smithsonian. The label was on products made and packaged in Canyonville, Oregon by the Cow Creek Indians back home.
I hope to bring our grandsons, Tyler and Trey, to visit the display when they can understand the power and prestige the museum displays. They are enrolled members of the Siletz tribe from the Oregon Coast area. It is something they will be able to view with pride in their heritage.
On to visit our daughter and son in law, Kate and Kevin, before resuming the trip. I get to hug a redhead, love and laugh with two wonderful people, shower in a big shower and sleep in a normal bed. A few days of family time.
No comments:
Post a Comment