November 3, 2000

This week: Blinds Dropping

As Jeff Biggers discovered in the Spoon River Valley, sometimes you have to look a little deeper to discover the real heart of a town or village. And when we really see what's there, we'll often learn something that truly changes the way we view the world.

A few weeks ago I asked you to call in and tell me about a time you were traveling and you saw something that had such a profound effect on you that it not only changed your view of the world, but also your perspective of yourself: when your blinders fell and the truth was revealed. Such was the case for David from St. Louis, Missouri. While exploring Africa some of the local residents invited him into their home: a hut made of cow dung, where he learned a very important lesson in humility.

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Next Week: Worst Houseguest

I think one of the main reasons we explore new places is to learn about different cultures and how other people behave. Of course, another way to learn is by having others come to live with us. You can learn a lot about them, and yourself by seeing a visitor's reaction to our day-to-day routine. And sometimes, a little ignorance can be bliss! With the holidays fast approaching there will be plenty of opportunities to open our homes to out-of-towners: to family and friends. We don't have to take a trip to the other side of the world to experience extreme differences in lifestyle... especially when it comes to family. Like the eccentric uncle who insists on waking up at six in the morning to Sousa marches playing on the hi-fi at full volume. Personally, I prefer to start my day with a nice cup of coffee rather than a rousing rendition "Stars and Stripes". OK. So, here's what we wanna know this week: Tell us about the worst house guest you ever had. What was it about that visitor that drove you absolutely bonkers? Maybe it was the guest from heck who would never leave. I want to hear your story. Send us an email or call 888-SAV-TRAV. That's 888-728-8728.

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