On the road to Princeton

We took my car. It took an hour to get from Willow Grove, PA to Princeton, NJ. Not bad. Made one minor blunder. I warned Susie when she got in the car, "We're gonna get lost, not terribly lost, but we'll definitely get lost."

I wanted to spend at least 2 hours at the museum. The Princeton University Art Museum. I'd heard on the radio that there was an exhibit of Alaskan Native Art from the Bering Strait and I was dying to see it.

In my early 20s I visited Alaska - Sitka, Fairbanks and Anchorage. Took Polaroids which I have somewhere in my upstairs drawer. Used to keep a diary back then so I'm sure I recorded it in my diary. Met a little girl in my travels, last name Hadley, who was a native Alaskan. She was real friendly and smart. Wonder where she is today.

When I visit museums I don't carry a purse. I stuff my money in my pants pocket and like to walk arms-free. The one mistake I made - a big one, too - was that I didn't pick up any brochures of the museum. I cherish the brochure I have from my favorite museum - American Visionary - in Baltimore. Scott and I visited it several months ago.

He is not a museum person. I could've dragged him to the Princeton Museum cuz he's a good sport but first I tried to get friends to go. Susie was undecided but I kept talking to her on the phone and finally she said yes.

Princeton is a beautiful city. Upscale. We parked in one of the many lots on the outskirts of the town. I backed into the first spot in the garage, a handicapped zone, and I pulled out my precious blue handicap sticker. I've had crippling sciatica in the past. Like the manic-depression I used to get, I hope I don't get another attack of episodic sciatica.

Wore my fabulous new museum-hardy shoes I bought at Walmart. I believe in planning ahead. Know why? Cuz I don't like to suffer. I didn't want aching feet like Estelle has in the blog below. I also went on my stationary bike for strength and endurance before the long ride. I take life very seriously, if you don't already know that about me.

Every time I drive a long distance I fear I'll never make it safely back home. I used to drive part of the same route when I worked in Bristol, PA. It was no big deal back then, I was so used to it.

Really, the only way to truly appreciate things is to absent yourself from them for awhile, then return, and view with fresh eyes. So many things to pay attention to when you drive. That's why I love my new car. Great visibility and it doesn't make funny noises like my old car. I just learned to use my passenger-side mirror w/confidence, tho you've still gotta turn your head for those tricky blind spots.

Two math majors escorted us thru the black iron gates of the university and showed us the art museum. The buildings were all old and noble-looking. Splendid is the word that comes to mind, says the Oxford don.

The museum was small enough so you could view the entire thing in slightly less than three hours. The artifacts from Alaska were tiny. Many were tools used on the animals they kill - walrus, whales, seals. They have 'blood-stoppers' where they stop the wounds from the animals.

I liked the sketch of the home some natives live in. You get into the outer hall and smack the snow off your clothes. There'd be special paddles for this. You sit on soft cushions in the main room, the kitchen is in the back. I also liked the framework for a large beautiful wooden kayak. I ran the back of my middle finger across the smooth wood since there was no sign saying Do not touch.

I felt called to attend the special exhibit since I heard it on the radio. To my mind, one reason was cuz I'd meet my death on the road to Princeton, and another was simply b/c it would be a great thing to do on a lovely October weekend in the fall. My true inspiration for going is fellow blogger Bill Hess. Check out his blog here. And view his spectacular whaling photographs here.