I would have liked to go to more amusement parks when I was a kid, but in the long run, I’m glad my parents and I went to historical places and museums instead. The Freedom Trail in Boston, for instance. And the Franklin Institute in Philly. And it’s impossible to see all there is in D.C. in two days, but I’ll never forget my first look at the Air and Space Museum. Spirit of St. Louis above my head, and a moon rock in front of me. Good call, dad.
insert obligatory joke concerning a pickup being called a “ute” in Australia.
(Yes I was very confused.)
Sorry, can’t think of any painful character-building moments…
I must admit, I’ve seen that movie about 8 times, but until this thread I just thought “ute” was some bizarre Yankee slang.
Funny, the things that stick with you. I was about 13 years old and visiting an aunt in Pennsylvania. Hands down, she was my favorite aunt of all of them.
Anyway, we were going somewhere and she had forgotten her purse in the car. We’d walked a few blocks away from where she had parked, so when she asked me if I’d go get it, I think I sighed heavily or some other thing to indicate that I’d do it, but I wasn’t gonna like it, thank you very much.
After I returned from bringing the purse back, she looked me in the eye, and said, “I’d rather have you do no favor at all, than do one grudgingly.” The way she said it; that look of disappointment in her eyes… To this day, I do my best not to let on that I’m not particularly keen on doing something for someone.