Dahlias



Here is a mother and child made out of dahlias , a float in the annual Zundert, Netherlands annual parade, much like our Rose Parade in  Pasadena, California.   They only use dahlias and they build huge gravity defying sculptures and have been doing this since 1936.   I wish I could have put on all of the pictures that came in on the attachment as they were awesome.  The little town is crowded with over fifty thousand people coming from all over the world to see the parade.    An amazing feat and well worth the trip . . .um . . . well, I'd like to go.

We had a few words from Erin and Donaleo.  Their host family, mother, son and grandmother fed them awesome meals and spent one dinner discussing 'nonas' or grandmothers so now I know why my ears were burning.    They 'saw' Rome, no details as yet but hopefully pictures will follow soon.   They leave Rome for Tuscany and more adventures.    It reminded me of a quote "twenty years from now you will be disappointed by the things you didn't do, than by the ones you did . . .Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."  Mark Twain . . . So Erin and Donaleo enjoy the 'sail' as you follow your dreams and remember 'home' is where the heart is.    

So today, do a little dreaming of your own.   Start saving for a trip to where you would love to go and then do it.   It sometimes takes more time to make it work, but persistence will do it every time.    It is one of the 'things' in life that you never regret and that is traveling to places where you meet new people who do not always speak your language but they do have smiling eyes and make every effort to reach out and make friends.   I remember being in a department store  at one of our stops, think it was Germany, and  I wanted to buy a birthday card but there were all kinds of cards and all kinds of writing but not in English.   A lady shopper  who did not speak English and of course I didn't speak German, so I smiled, touched her arm and sang Happy Birthday .  She grinned and handed me some cards.    There are just some tunes everyone knows.   So be of good cheer, pick a place and save for a trip of your life time.    "The Heart of Europe" tours are really great and you get to visit the highlights and it gives you faces and places you will always want to revisit. . . but, there are more places and faces so choose wisely and give yourself a special education.    Just talking about it makes me want to pack and go.   Oh to be young, to be rich, to be on the road again will Willy singing in my ear.   Go!!!  make memories as they stand you in good stead later in life.   Don't forget to pack your smile and keep a hug or two handy.   Hugs to all.