Yesterday was perfect: sunny, breezy and cool. but today there is no sun which makes the air feel damp and chilly. We had a deluge the other night with thunder and lightning and nearly two inches of rain. It was dramatic and wonderful.
Tonight I’m going to the Red Sox game. It’s Peace Corps night. If you watch the game, look for the sea of red shirts in the bleachers, around 350 returned volunteers and their families. That’s me waving every now and then. Before the game, there will be a parade of Peace Corps country flags on the field. I’ll be one of the flag bearers. Between innings 3 and 4 and 7 and 8, we’re holding up tiles which will come together as the Peace Corps logo. You won’t see that. You’ll probably be watching a Sullivan tire ad or one for Dunkin’ Donuts.
Sometimes I wish I were money rich. I wouldn’t move into a bigger house or buy a different car, but I’d take my family on a huge trip. We’d travel on the Mediterranean and stop in so many places. I’d take a million pictures. Some would be in black and white like the travel pictures from the 30’s. They’re my favorites. I’d have the women wear hats and dresses for a few of those while the men would be in suits and wearing fedoras. My nephew’s son would wear short pants or knickers and an argyle vest over his shirt. In the family picture, we’d be lined up by height.
I would have loved living in the 30’s when people took the grand tour of Europe before they settled down into their lives. I’d bring a steamer trunk and fill it with satin like dresses, a few with flowers, hats with veils, a couple of pairs of fancy shoes and some sturdier ones for walking. A fox stole would be packed for those chilly nights. For the fancy dinners on the ocean liner, a few long dresses would do just fine. After dinner, before going to my cabin, I’d sit and have a drink or two in the bar, smoke my cigarette from a long black holder and have witty conversations with my fellow travelers. At every stop I’d buy a sticker for the outside of my steamer trunk.
After my trip, the trunk would be stored in the attic. In it would be a few souvenirs, some pictures and my diary. Years later, someone would find it, dust it off and spent an afternoon with me on my adventure.
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