Sometimes we can learn a lot about who we are and what we are doing by looking back. Not only looking back at our lives but at what the lives of those before us held. Today Liz and I started out with the Pettigrew Museum. I've already decided that I DO NOT want to be like R.F. Pettigrew. To me he seemed arrogant and not at all the person I wanted myself to be. He was a great influential person in South Dakota history, but he's not someone that I want to be. The way that he lived was great for people back in his time, and it is great that we are able to have it preserved, but to me it would be much more meaningful to see the normal persons house of that time and not a rich man's. To me R.F. Pettigrew seemed like a person who wanted to show off his wealth and arrogant. It's not a characteristic I want people describing me as. The one thing that did interest me was the fact that he liked to travel the world. It's something that always interested me.
Which brings me to finishing the first book on the list Tales of a Female Nomad. The book though slow was interesting. I have found new destinations that I now want to travel to, and not just because of their beauty. The food and culture changes interest me the most. It's hard to take in all the things she talked about, but most of them I would like experience. Her life style interested me and if ever the chance come I would like to take it up.
To finish up the day, we went to the Salvation Army to help out with the kids. It was quite a flash back to the past as we roller skated the night away. It reminded me of all the times that my school went roller blading, and just how much I miss trick skating with my friends. I also happen to find out that not every school does a unit in roller blading as part of the PE courses. Actually it turns out that so far it has only been my school. Now I'm thankful for it while back then it was the unit looked forward to the most. I learned a lot today. Most of the things I have learned have been internal and hard to express in words. It's changed my view and emotions in ways that I could never explain. I hope that it continues this way.
Now sitting in my room I'm wondering about some flowers that I received today. They seem to match a anonymous card sent to me back in November. I wish to know who this person is seeing as last week I received an anonymous letter that caused some hurt in the accusing words that ring with false prophecies. I do not know if the flowers and card match the sender of this letter but either way it's a mystery I hope unravel as I continue to change and developed into a better person through the new things I am currently experiencing.
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Interesting observation on Senator Pettigrew, given that during his day, he caught heck for being somewhat of a socialist. He was indicted in 1917 for protesting U.S. involvement in World War, which he saw doing nothing but enriching certain wealthy interests. See also his book Triumphant Plutocracy, which Vladimir Lenin himself read and liked.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if he ever addressed the seeming conflict between his own challenging of the wealthy elites and the apparent opulence of his own house.
Thanks for the reading suggestion. I'll have to look it up. I'm not going to lie; I grew up in Iowa, and even though I went through the Pettigrew Estate, I don't know much about him or South Dakota history. After touring the Estate and displays, I believe I will have to look into it to either prove or disprove my previous observation on Senator Pettigrew.
ReplyDeleteObviously, your candid opinion about Mr. Pettigrew drew some thoughtful response. I, too, will be eager to follow-up on the man and museum once I return to Sioux Falls.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to Tales of a Female Nomad, I this it is worth mentioning that unlike Pettigrew she had very little money but used her art (children's book) to fund her travels as well as engage culturally. I find the simplicity of that inspiring.