Oh, the Places I’ve Been

I was recently invited to a party that asked the guest to bring their “bucket list” of things they wish to do or places they wish to go before they say their adieu to this world.   I thought before I can do this wish or goal list, I should reflect on the things I’ve done and the places I’ve been and celebrate those before contemplating on what I wish to do going forward.  Here is a listing of places I have been.

Ancient Places

Cahokia Mounds (near East St. Louis) The Cahokia Mounds are the largest group of mounds north of Mexico. Monks' Mound, a rectangular, flat-topped earthwork, 100 ft high with a 17-acre base, is named for Trappist monks who settled there in the early 19th century. Hopewell (near Chillicothe, OH) From about 200 B.C.E.. to C.E.. 500, the Ohio River Valley was a focal point of the prehistoric Hopewell culture. The term "Hopewell" describes a broad network of beliefs and practices among different American Indian groups over eastern North America.

The Great Serpent Mound, Peebles, OH  is a 1,348-foot-long, three-foot-high prehistoric effigy located on a plateau of the Serpent  Mound crater along Ohio Busch Creek in  Adams County, Ohio.

Mesa Verde National Park (near Cortez and Mancos, CO) Mesa Verde ("Green Table"), the most notable and best-preserved cliff dwellings and relics in the United States, covers four archaeological periods. From approximately C.E.. 600 through C.E. 1300 people lived and flourished in communities throughout the area, eventually building elaborate stone villages in the sheltered alcoves of the canyon walls.

Revolutionary War Battlefields & Sites-Boonesborough, Boston, Lexington, Concord, Valley Forge.

Civil War Battlefields-Chickamauga,  Franklin, Gettysburg, Kennesaw Mountain,  Perryville, Petersburg,  Shiloh, Spring Hill, Stones River, Thompsons Station, Tupelo.

Places-Jamestown, Williamsburg, Mt Vernon, Monticello, Washington DC, The Alamo, Independence Hall, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, World War Two Memorial, Korean War Monument, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Arlington. The Smithsonian, Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, Henry Ford Museum, Betsy Ross House, USS Arizona, Fort Laramie, Mt. Rushmore. Lincoln Birthplace, Truman Library & Home, Nixon Library & Home, Gerald R Ford Library, Reagan Library, Warner Brothers Studio, Universal Studio, Walt Disney Studios, NBC Studio, Hwy 1, French Quarter, National Mall, Las Vegas Strip, Times Square, Nashville, Hollywood, Disneyland, Disneyworld, Epcot, Taos, South Beach,  Civil Rights District in Atlanta, Time Trials at the Indy 500. 

Toured: Markers Mark, Woodford Reserve & Jack Daniels Distillery.  Budweiser, Coors and New Belgium Breweries.

Race Tracks: Santa Anita, The Red Mile & Kneeneland

Rafted: Middle Fork of the Clark River, Salmon River, Arkansas River.

Natural Wonders-Death Valley, Devils Tower,  Haleakala, Volcanoes National Park, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion Canyon, Yosemite, Glacier, Great Smokey Mountains, Everglades, Redwood National Park, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Mt Evans.

Professional Baseball Parks-All stadiums except Miami, DC, Pittsburg & Toronto. Surfed California and Hawaii.

I have visited all 50 states, four Canadian Provinces, three Mexican States and visited Chichen Itza & Castillo San Felipe del Morro –“El Morro’ in Puerto Rico

I’ve traveled from the Golden Gate to the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. From Key West to Honolulu and Anchorage.  Attended great concerts, seen and meet famous people and celebrities.  I am sure I have left some out, yet these places and people were all seared on my mine as special. 

Places I want to visit; Israel, Masada, Jerusalem, Rome and Pompeii, Athens & the Oracle at Delphi, Troy, Easter Island, Machu Picchu, The Serengeti, The Pyramids of Giza and Thebes. The Louvre, Agkor Wat, The Great Wall of Chin, The Louve.

Of all the things done and seen perhaps the greatest is looking into the eyes of parents who loved and nurtured, a beautiful wife who make me laugh, loving children that continue to amaze me and grandchildren who I see boundless possibilities in.  All possible by living in the greatest and most moral county ever established by men.

Next, working on this year’s to do list…

 

Acts of Kindness



 

My Tire Sensor light illuminated on my car this morning.  I pulled over to check the left rear tire.  I could not see anything wrong so I drove slowly to the closest tire dealer.  The good folks at Discount Tire in Lafayette, CO at 740 US Highway 287 checked it out.  It just needed air.  They checked my other tires.  I was in and out in a few minutes.  They would not take anything for filling my tire.  The sensor light went off and I was back to my day.   The sensor light was a good reminder to check my personal gauge.  What have I done to make someone’s day today? Open a door. Say Thank You, Smile.  Kindness, Pass It On!

Hush

In art it’s called, “negative space.” 

In music it’s called, “a place to rest.”

In public speaking it’s called, the “pause.”

No, not a dogs feet, nor a Southern Father. 

The “pause” is the silence between two sections of speech that allows the listener to catch up, reflect and to connect to the importance of what is being said.

Think of the last time when someone like your Mom, your Wife, or your Kids were baking cookies.           Now inhale, and take a deep whiff of that freshly baked dough, slowly,… release your breath.  Are you holding onto every morsel of memory?   Off course you are.  The “pause” in public speaking is the aroma of the cookies baking.  That “ah” that you experience after you take a deep breath.

Why do you fear the “pause”?  Is it anxiety?  Perhaps in the chaotic, cacophony of your everyday life, you grab every opportunity to be heard, then, like water you rush to fill the void.  Why not use and savor the silence?  Using a “pause” in public speaking is a skill that you can practice and become comfortable with.

I had the opportunity to do a speech from the Advanced Communication Series of Interpretive Reading.  The first project is “Read a Story”.  The speech objectives were to understand the elements of reading, analyze a narrative and plan an effective interpretation.  I choose to recite Leonard E. Read’s classic, “I, Pencil.”  The story is written in the first person from the point of view of a pencil and gives a superb case study for free markets. 

The original version of this story is 2,313 words long.  Reading at my average speed of 145 words per minute I would normally complete this story in about 16 minutes. Yet, the time allotted for the speech was 8-10 minutes.   With editing and keeping the author's intention intact, I revised this story to under 1,400 words.  The real challenge, even with editing was giving myself enough time to add well placed “pauses” to increase impact, tension and move the story along with vocal variety.  A tough task yet, a challenge accomplished.

Well placed “pauses” immerse your audience into the void of silence to influence and indicate the importance of what you are saying.  As Darren LaCroix, 2001 World Champion of Public Speaking and Keynote at the District 26 Fall Conference stated many times, “Stage Time, Stage Time, Stage Time”.  You can practice using the “pause” each time you take the stage.

Happy Hush!

Traveling Bee

A Bee is a wonderful creature to observe. They fly from flower to flower searching for nectar making the flower and the Bee stronger. Like a Bee, cross-pollination especially of ideas also makes Toastmasters clubs stronger.

Keeping my public speaking skills sharp is a challenge when I am away on business. I often will seek out a Toastmasters meeting on the Toastmasters International website for the city I am visiting and find a club meeting that fits my schedule.

Recently, my busy business travel season began. I had the good fortune to visit five clubs around the country, two in California, Coastmasters Toastmasters in Dana Point and Anaheim Breakfast Club. In Oregon, I visited Cascade Toastmasters in Eugene. In Texas, I visited Executive Toastmasters in Dallas. And finally, in Florida, I visited Highrisers Toastmasters in Tampa.

All these clubs had engaging websites that invited guests to visit. I was attracted by photographs of members posted on their websites and their meeting schedules were up to date. At all these meetings, I was warmly greeted and introduced to other club members. This gave me an instant connection which made me feel welcome. At each visit, I was invited to share my observations and impressions of the meetings.

The members were genuinely interested in finding out how their club was similar or different to mine. They wanted to be evaluated on what they did well and how they could improve. I also came away from each meeting with a host of ideas to share with my clubs to improve and enhance our gatherings. In some instances I even received a complimentary breakfast.

Visiting other clubs is enjoyable, enlightening and an added value of being a Toastmaster. Visiting other clubs out of state gives me a sense of having an extended group of friends where ever I go. My sales calls on the days I visited these meetings was superior. I have found this experience helps me to learn new ideas, keeps my skills up and makes me a better speaker. Bee adventurous. Bee courageous. Bee a Bee and cross-pollinate when you travel for business or pleasure. You'll Bee glad you did.