Happy New Year (From Hereford Times)

Happy New Year

10:00am Friday 29th December 2006

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I have itchy feet. . .while I said in my last blog that I don't travel much, that didn't mean I don't love travelling. I've been in England for 4 years next month and through a little pushing and prodding have convinced my husband to take me around to see the sights. I think when you live somewhere forever, you take for granted the very things around you that can be interesting.

Americans unless they are well off and can take time from work don't travel the way Europeans do. For instance the state of Florida is what is called a "right to work" state. Badly misnamed as it should be a "right to fire" state. This law gives your employer to fire you without just cause. Many people don't even take vacations because they fear that they won't have a job to come back home to. My son-in-law who was recently injured on the job is afraid to apply for compensation because if he blames the faulty machine for the now missing portion of his finger, his boss can fire him. Being 3,000 miles away is frustrating at a time like this because I would like to be there to help with the children while he and my daughter deal with Drs. visits and all that comes with it. The only saving grace is that because it was an on the job injury worker's compensation will pay the Dr. bills but nothing else.

I say all that to say that we are hoping to travel a bit come the spring. My youngest daughter is coming for a visit and as a surprise we planned a four day trip to Rome. (She also has itchy feet.) In addition, I am hoping to go to Belgium for a weekend visit with a young woman that was a foreign exchange student in my home back in 1990.

There are still parts of England I want to see, Devon and Cornwall for example. I had a great, great uncle that migrated to Fowey and married, had children and died at sea there. I'd like to go to Ireland, my father's family is from Belfast. I think in the end, I need to win the lottery, not enough money in the old bank account to see all the places I'd like to visit.

I wanted to say also that because of this blog I have a new friend in Greece. She commented on one of my past blogs and we are now exchanging emails. I don't think a person can ever have enough friends. I am not sure what I would do without email.

Wishing you all a safe and Happy New Year.