I've never been to France, other than via Google Earth. I always wanted to, but that won't ever happen. Too far away, too expensive to make the trip, and I'm too old now to go and do the things I'd like to investigate there. In fact, I don't even travel much in the U.S. anymore. America is a big country, but I spent a lot of time rambling around in it. Lots of diversity here, all the way from swamps and lowlands to deserts and high mountains. Since I'm a mountain person first and foremost, I usually investigated them thoroughly. I've lived in the southern Appalachians of North Carolina, even in the Rocky Mountains of New Mexico for a while . . . but I never saw the mountains of any other country. France has mountains, and that's attractive to me.
I'll always wonder what it's like to spend time in a foreign country. I've always had a fascination with geography, about the different landscapes around the world. What's it like down in Patagonia in Argentina? What's South Africa like up close and personal? And what about the south Island of New Zealand? Are the mountains of France as beautiful as they look on Google Earth? I've seen lots of beautiful mountains right here in America, and we've even got mountains right here in Texas. I visit them from time to time, down in the Big Bend Country along the Mexican border. Got friends there, always enjoy their company . . . and that's what it's partly about, isn't it? If you travel, you meet people, and that tells you a lot about a place.
I met a man not long ago (he lives near here) who was born in England. He became a seaman, eventually a ship captain, and he spent most of his years doing that in France. When I discovered that about him, I had a million questions for him. He still goes back there from time to time, especially when he needs medical care. He talked about a doctor there in France, a half Vietnamese, half French guy who pretty much reconstructed his face after a bout with skin cancer, had nothing but praise for the medical system there and the doctors. This doctor, he said, had a fascination with the American West and came to the U.S. each year investigate what he reads about. I share that fascination with the man, hope he finds what he's looking for. Were I a younger man, I'd probably contact him and cut a deal - you show me French mountains, and I'll show you my mountains.
I guess my particular interest in foreign places is more about the people there. It's Sunday here, a misty morning with the expectation of rain. We don't get enough rain where I live, so that's welcome. I get up early, before sunrise, and drink coffee, take care of chores around the house like letting out the dogs and cats for a morning romp. Shortly, I'll drive across town to my shop and take care of some animals there, and maybe I'll drink more coffee before doing the things almost everyone in small town America does. It's a simple life for the most part, and I like it that way. Half the people in town will go to church this morning, then gather somewhere for lunch. People will go to the park and meet friends this afternoon, or some will go to the lake for a little recreation. Since it's Sunday, the downtown area will be deserted, except for out of town motorists driving through. It's a quiet day here at daybreak, will stay that way throughout the day.
And somewhere in France, I can only imagine that there's a town much like where I live - a place where people will do pretty much the same as I'm doing here in Texas. Maybe that's the way it should be. Maybe that's just proof that the world is really a small place after all . . . at least in some ways.
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