I asked my Mom if she would write something that I could put up in my blog about their trip and experiences in Australia. Her words are in italics...

G'Day Mates,

Mary wanted some comments from us for her blog. I can't do it nearly as well as she, but here goes.

I woke up this a.m. to yet another beautiful, sunshiny day and yet another self-imposed tour (the Blue Mountains today). I stumbled into the bathroom, mumbling, and when Ben asked what I was saying, I mumbled louder, "I'm tired of being a tourist." We've met people traveling for a month around Australia (You need at least that) and some going around the world (I wonder how long that takes).

All this being said, this has been the trip of a lifetime.

Sydney is a breathtakingly beautiful city (especially if you love the ocean as we do)! We are steps from Circular Quay (pronounced "key") with 5 wharfs taking people all over the city on ferries, water taxis and sight-seeing cruises.

The Opera House and the Harbour (Australian/British spelling) Bridge are the beautiful, anchor sights you see upon entering or leaving the Harbour.

We are staying in an old, old hotel in the oldest part of the city - "The Rocks"

We are a walk or ferry ride from everything, including Mary & Jeff who live in Darling Harbour, which is a more lively, updated part of the city. I think of this part as a darling little child although it is really named after one of the early Governors of Australia. Darling Harbour reminds me very much of Epcot. We've had only one brief visit to their apartment so I guess the clean up detail was something they didn't want to repeat.

Sidenote: We keep the apartment absolutely immaculate at all times...just wanted to save my parents the trouble of traveling out to our place all the time, yeah that's the ticket

I'm thinking this is probably not what Mary envisioned when she asked me for comments for her blog.

We have seen many, many wonderful sights here in Sydney and after two weeks I feel I know it well! Ben has taken a picture of just about everything with his new digital camera so you will be bored, I mean entranced by it all.

One last note, Australia is a very expensive place to visit, but we are so impressed with what we get for our money. Everything is well done, well-planned out and all so civilized.

They serve coffee in china cups most everywhere (no styrofoam except starbucks) and 1/2 flush for you know what and a full flush for the other. See you soon.

Love,
Barb

Good on ya Mum!

So many Mother’s Days spent up at school studying for finals…
How special to finally spend one with her, here in this beautiful place.

I’m having a hard time saying something that’s not incredibly clichéd

She deserves better
She does not dwell in clichés, stereotypes, or generalizations
She doesn’t exist in any one place

She isn’t even the woman I left back in January

Old paintings of farm cats gazing out windows have been replaced with modern art for the “gallery wall”

She is my fortress of what’s real

My mother isn’t afraid to say, I can do better.

When so many people fake their way through, pretending to understand because they’re terrified people will discover they might not know everything…She is the one that asks questions and has the courage to admit when she doesn’t understand

She is the eternal student
Determined to learn from her mistakes, set goals and strive to be more than she is at the present moment

And she does it all with the innate understanding that the better she is, the better those around her will be

A part of her legacy, one of the many gifts she gives this world

Self-improvement is contagious
And her state of flux forces me to constantly re-evaluate who I am and push myself farther

From her I have learned
That growing up isn’t a destination, it is a journey
And that I am never a finished product


“One day, you’re going to be just like your mother.”

I should be so lucky.