Family Vacation Time in Chicago

Posted on July 15, 2006 by moonbridgebooks

While we were visiting my side of the family around the July 4th weekend, we decided to spend a couple days in nearby Chicago – our “mini-vacation.” We got tickets to see the King Tut exhibit at the Chicago Field Museum, but other than that had no special plans. My husband did have a desire to eat at the original Uno’s Pizzaria there and had dreams of walking through the Chicago Art Institute. I had thought we should see the Museum of Science and Industry.

As it turned out, the trip became a vacation directed by our kids. We all enjoyed the King Tut exhibit…lots of interesting details about gods and afterlife and burial practices. Afterwards the kids wanted to explore the rest of the museum, especially all the stuffed animals (the taxidermized ones).

In the one concession to me, we went to J. Toguri Mercantile, a Japanese shop I had loved visiting as a child whenever my parents took us to Chicago. It seemed a lot different to me now that I was grown, but it still smelled of incense and carried the little boxes of “Botan” rice candy (where you can actually eat the wrapper) that my own kids now enjoy. The manager there agreed to carry my book, Cherry Blossoms in Twilight, so perhaps I could write off our vacation expenses as business?!

Toguri Mercantile is near the funky “Old Town” section of Chicago and our oldest daughter was excited about the clothing shops there. My husband was surprisingly patient waiting around in the “girl” shops. That night he again patiently followed his daughter while she shopped Navy Pier.

The next day the kids chose to see the Shedd Aquarium instead of the Museum of Science and Industry or the Art Museum. I loved watching the bizarre sea dragons and the kids loved pretty much everything. Oh, and the short Sponge Bob 4D movie was a hit.

Chicago is a great town to visit, and we left, exhausted, to head back to family. My husband never got to eat at Uno’s and I never got to rest at all except to sleep in one of the luxuriously comfortable beds of the Chicago Sheraton, but the kids had a grand time and I am pleased that they will have good memories to carry of a city that is special to my own heart.

Linda Austin
“Cherry Blossoms in Twilight”
http://www.moonbridgebooks.com
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Sweet Sixteen

Posted on July 5, 2006 by moonbridgebooks

We had a nice family gathering over the July 4th holiday. My stepmom chose that time to honor the four girls in our family who turn sixteen this year. She asked all the adults to write a memory of their teen years and any thoughts they’d like to offer these young people. She took the writings, added photos, and created beautiful scrapbooks for the girls.

Contrary to what we were afraid of, the girls really appreciated the books. Sometimes we think teens are not interested in what their parents and grandparents have to say, but you never know. The teen years are notoriously difficult, and it can help for youngsters to see that their parents really do know a little about what they are dealing with. Times change, but some things don’t change that much! It can also be really helpful to hear advice from other adults in the family (anyone besides a parent), and to know that they also love and support them. Yes, it helps to have a village to raise a child.

Linda Austin
“Cherry Blossoms in Twilight”
http://www.moonbridgebooks.com
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Remembering the Everyday Stuff

Posted on June 22, 2006 by moonbridgebooks

I gave an author presentation last month to a very receptive audience. By the end of my talk, many people were inspired to go home and either write their own memoirs, ask their parents about their lives, or to share their own stories with their young children. I call that a successful event!

One important point I made about recording memories, is that few memories can be considered insignificant. People think their lives are so ordinary, but years later – a generation or two later – the ordinary becomes historic. My own kids find common ground in some of my childhood stories, but are amazed at other details… like, “Gosh, Mom, what did you do without Nintendo?” or, “How could you live without Nickelodeon?” Imagine how interesting simple stories of grandparents’ lives are to children of the “modern world.” My mother-in-law remembers going to school by horse and cart!

July 4th is coming up – another opportunity for family get-togethers and story-telling. Don’t be afraid to ramble on about everyday life – house, town, school, chores, food, play. Did you get in trouble, what was your favorite game? Remember to use sensory details of sight, sound, feel, and feelings. Reflect upon how you felt, what things meant to you, what you found important and valuable in your life, lessons learned. Allow others to know who you were and how you lived. You really are interesting.

Linda Austin
“Cherry Blossoms in Twilight”
http://www.moonbridgebooks.com
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