Mouse and Marmot

Ornaments from Afar

On The Ninth Day of Christmas...-4, originally uploaded by Flagstaff Mouse.

We picked up this cross in Greece a couple years ago - on our first overseas trip together. I don't know what it was originally intended for, but I thought it made a good ornament. When I was younger, putting the ornaments on the tree was an all-day task because each one has a story. We would invite neighbors over, make cookies and drink egg nog. My mom and I would reminisce while I carefully placed each one. I like the idea of having our Christmas tree filled with memories. We are just getting started on ours, but that's half the fun...

Storytelling

Waiting for Daddy, originally uploaded by Flagstaff Mouse.

Photography, for me, is about telling a story.

Here is an inspiring TED talk by Chimamanda Adichie about the dangers and importance of storytelling.

Traveling gives us the chance to learn others' stories.

Observation

School Group, originally uploaded by Flagstaff Mouse.

All my homework recently has left my brain wrapped around things like chaos and positive feedback loops and me feeling less than creative as far as writing goes. I have some posts from Paris & Japan to edit and put up, once my brain settles back down. In the meantime, just an observation.

One of my favorite things to do when I venture out - whether it is just down the street to a cafe or across the ocean to Greece - is to watch people. Last night, as I was sipping hot chocolate and reading a book on systems thinking, I was also thoroughly enjoying the family sitting at the table next to me. I was impressed by the mother's ability to stay calm while trying to get three girls fed and talk to her husband on the cell phone. Before they left, the older girl - about 10 - looked over at me then said to her mom, "This place would be nice and peaceful without us here." I couldn't help but smile yet, I get energy from these interactions. If I wanted peace and quiet, I would have stayed home.

Travel is that way, too. Some of my favorite travel memories are those small connections we've made - having tea with a stranger in Istanbul, chatting with the gondolier in Venice, hitching a ride back to town in Mykonos. If I wanted to spend time with people just like me, I would just stay home.

What fun people have you met while traveling?