Lau Alexandra

Memorial Day Monuments

In the United States, Memorial Day weekend typically marks the unofficial start of summer. Families gather, barbecues abound, and- if you follow old wives’ tales – white is once again acceptable to wear (a rule I continue to break, year after year. I mean, there’s literally a shade of fabric called Winter White. What choice do I have?). For kids, it also signifies the end of the school year, or the countdown to the end, depending on what state they live in. In New York, we’d typically have a month left before saying goodbye to our students for the summer break.

In between the lawn games and anticipation of summer merriment, it’s easy to lose sight of what Memorial Day is really about. The idea to commemorate fallen American soldiers began in 1868, in the wake of the Civil War. Originally celebrated on May 30^th, “Decoration Day”- as it used to be known- started as a way to remember soldiers who lost their lives in the Civil War. It did not become a federal holiday until 1971. By that point, it had been moved to the last Monday in May and had become known as “Memorial Day”. It also became more inclusive- it no longer just commemorated Civil War soldiers, but all American military personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect their country.

One of the best places to honor the true meaning of Memorial Day is America’s capital, Washington, D.C. In a way, every day is Memorial Day in D.C. Visit any of the monuments dedicated to America’s military past and it’s easy to see why.

Lincoln Memorial (Memorial Dedicated 1922): I know that this is not a memorial to a war, per se. However, consider it this way: Abraham Lincoln is certainly a casualty of the American Civil War- really, the final death of the war. His assassination related directly to fear over the war’s ending. Further, inscribed on one of the walls of the Lincoln Memorial is the Gettysburg Address, which Lincoln wrote in dedication to the soldiers killed at the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. My favorite line of any presidential speech is in this address: “the world will little note nor long remember what was said here, but it can never forget what they did here.” Lincoln’s humbleness, as well as his genuine honor for the fallen is the perfect representation of a man who dedicated- and ultimately gave- his life to bringing the country back together.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Memorial Dedicated 1982): This memorial hits closest to home for me, as my dad was drafted to serve in the Vietnam War in 1969. He very rarely talks about it, but I know that fighting, as well as his experiences when he returned home, was an extremely difficult time in his life. I’m really grateful for this memorial, as it is a beautiful and well-deserved tribute to those who struggled both overseas and upon their return to America, as well as to those who never got the opportunity to come home. Seeing the names of the fallen inscribed on the granite wall is gut-wrenching. Walking the length of the wall and seeing the tributes that friends and family leave brings tears to my eyes every time I visit. From letters, to pictures, to stuffed animals, these soldiers continue to be honored. The best part? National Park Services ensures that each memento left is actually stored and catalogued, so that they are always preserved.

The wall is perhaps the most well-known part of the memorial, but don’t leave without seeing the two bronze statues that complete the memorial. They pay rightful homage to the women who served overseas as nurses (The Vietnam Women’s Memorial), as well as to the African and Latino-Americans who served their country during a time when the fight for civil rights in America was still ongoing (The Three Soldiers Statue). Their facial expressions are chilling reminders of the devastation experienced during this controversial conflict.

Korean Veterans Memorial (Dedicated 1995): Often called “the Forgotten War,” the memorial to Korea is a way to remember those who served their country during the conflict that lasted from 1950-1953. To me, this is the most haunting memorial of all. Altogether, there are 19 statues of soldiers spread out across the memorial’s expanse. Like the bronze statues in Vietnam, the expressions on the steel faces of the Korean Memorial soldiers are chilling. They look lost, haunted, scared- and so young. The large ponchos that each soldier wears seem to move as you pass them, which brings the chilling sentiment further alive. Visit in the winter after a fresh snowfall, and you will find snow gathered around the statues’ feet and in the folds of their ponchos- a reminder of the toll that frostbite and wintery conditions took on the soldiers. Walking through this memorial, you can feel how terrified and lost these young men must have felt.

World War II Memorial (Dedicated 2004): By far, my favorite place in the entire city. Wreathed pillars dedicated to all American states and protectorates surround a granite fountain. The sounds of the fountain and the silence of visitors make for an incredibly peaceful spot, yet its great size is a reminder of the massive impact that World War II had on the United States. When I’m here, no matter how frustrated I am at the growing divisiveness in America, I feel a complete sense of pride. I’m reminded of the unity that CAN happen, and that even though we’re far from a perfect country, I’m still proud to be an American.

In 2012, when I visited D.C. for the first time, I planned an ambitious itinerary. For our first day there, I wanted to get through two museums, take a daytime tour of the monuments, eat dinner, and then go on a ghost tour that evening. However, it took so long to get through ONE museum (history teacher problems) that the day’s plans were completely pushed back. We barely made it through one and a half museums before dinner- and then, we missed our ghost tour after we got off at the wrong Metro stop (pathetic, considering how much easier the D.C. Metro is to use compared to the NYC Subway system)! Not wanting to call it a night, we decided to walk by the monuments. That turned out to be the greatest decision of the trip. Though we saw them in the daylight the next day, seeing the D.C. monuments and memorials for the first time at night was one of the most beautiful sights I have ever experienced. The way they illuminate against the dark sky is magical- and the WWII Memorial at night? Forget it. Amazing (see the image above). Eight years later, stopping by the monuments at night is something I encourage every visitor in D.C. to do. To this day, that itinerary blunder ended up creating one of my favorite vacation memories of all time. Plus, we still got to go on the ghost tour the next day- but that’s another story for another entry.

Happy Memorial Day to those who are celebrating!

‘Til next time,

Lau

Long Island

Road Tripping, Social Distancing

This year, the familiar adage “April showers bring May flowers” has seemed to ring true. April brought warmer temperatures (yay!), but with that came a number of those rainy days so characteristic of early spring.

I don’t mind a good rainy day here and there. I tend to use them as an excuse to be a little less active than I typically am- those who know me well know that sitting still isn’t my forte, so I welcome rainy days as much-needed lazy time. Plus, on one recent rainy day, I got the bonus of getting to see this gorgeous rainbow come out over Sunken Meadow State Park:

*Honestly, this was incredible to witness. Plus, it didn’t fade quickly- it lingered, which made the whole showing even more impressive*

So no, the rain hasn’t been bad. On the contrary, it’s resulted in some pretty powerful messages of hope (and it’s allowed for more Gilmore Girls binging. Nope, still not done yet. Not even through Season 3 yet…I’m a slow TV binger.).

But, now that we’re only a month and a half away from summer, I’m getting more and more antsy for consistently warmer and sunnier days- and that’s especially true today, when the Northeast has been experiencing record lows. It’s snowing on Long Island. SNOWING.

Today is clearly an anomaly (at least I really hope so), and there actually have been a few of those warm and sunny days over the last couple weeks. I’ve been doing my best to take advantage of them by going on scenic drives- my own mini social distance road trips.

Many of these drives have taken me east, to Long Island’s North Fork. Exploration right now is limited, but the North Fork offers seemingly endless opportunities for following social distance guidelines while still enjoying the beauty that makes up the east end of Long Island.

At first, I wasn’t sure how to approach these trips. By driving all the way out along the North Fork, I would reach Orient Point- the northeastern end of Long Island. Though Orient was the end goal (no pun intended), I didn’t just want to drive straight there and back. I wanted to take advantage of the lack of crowds and find places along the way that I wouldn’t normally have stopped at.

To try to reach those “off the beaten path” spots, I ended up doing a combination of planning ahead and winging it. Before driving, I researched lesser-known spots on the North Fork and kept a list of the places that seemed most intriguing. While on the drives, I went to those bookmarked places, but I also used my phone’s map to find other parks, overlooks, and beaches that seemed intriguing. Then, I’d just head in their direction, and hope for the best.

And guess what? It worked! I came across many spots that I never knew existed, and relished the opportunities to spend time outside, surrounded by the natural beauty of these places.

Take Peconic Bay Park in Laurel/Mattituck:

*Between the beach grass and the perfect bay-side house, Peconic Bay Park presented beautiful scenery*

This park offers serene views of Peconic Bay and the Peconic River, framed by fringes of beach grass. Plus, just across the street is the Husing Pond Preserve, which offers a nature trail and views of an osprey nest built into the surrounding pond:

A playground, gazebo, and a shoreline dotted with houses that I would move into in a heartbeat (when I win the lottery) are some of the defining features of South Jamesport Beach. This spot in Jamesport quickly became a favorite stop of mine. Though there were only a few people scattered around when I visited, it was easy to see how this could be a great location for families to spend a lazy summer afternoon. There are also tennis and basketball courts in the nearby park for those who’d rather work up a sweat than work on their tans.

Another spot worth mentioning is Truman’s Beach, just west of Orient Point. Though not off the beaten path- it’s located right off of Main Rd./Route 25 and is popular with local fishermen- it stood out to me because of the history attached to it. At this spot, Commodore Stephen Decatur, an American war hero from the War of 1812, dropped anchor while on his way to New York City. Earlier that year, Decatur and his ship, the USS United States, had encountered the British ship HMS Macedonian while en route to Madeira, Portugal. There, in the Atlantic Ocean, the two ships battled, with Decatur and the United States ultimately claiming victory. Decatur returned home with the United States, as well as the Macedonian– his prize for defeating it. These ships, along with others that had helped to defeat the Macedonian, took part in a victory tour, which took them along the Long Island coast and Truman’s Beach as they made their way to NYC.

*Coastal history at Truman’s Beach. Anyone else a sucker for a historical marker, like me?*

When taking a social distancing road trip, keep in mind the businesses along the way (if you’re comfortable with it, and able to do so). There were many local places open along my North Fork drives that offered safe ways to provide support. I can’t write about these trips out east and not shout out to Main Road Biscuit Co. in Jamesport. I hope some of you hear me when I say that biscuits are a lifestyle. There’s something about that buttery, flaky lump of grain that just makes me happy. So, when I first had biscuits from Main Road last summer, I was ecstatic to find that they deliver on their biscuit game in every way. Currently, they are open for pick-up orders on the weekends, which gave me an opportunity to support a local business AND to satisfy my biscuit indulgence. $10 gets you four generously sized biscuits, plus an assortment of butters and fruit preserves on the side (their honey butter is incredible). If you’re not craving biscuits, chances are that you’ll still find something crave-worthy on their menu. On one of my trips, I tried the House Made Granola Bowl, which is made with a delicious maple-coconut granola. Like the biscuits, it did not disappoint.

*Take out from Main Road Biscuit Co. seems to taste even better when enjoyed in Greenport Village*

In my last post, I wrote about pushing back when you started feeling overwhelmed during quarantine. If you’re looking for ways to push back while also supporting local, one goal you can set is to try to improve your green thumb. Lavender-by-the-Bay in East Marion offers that chance- show up with your mask on, socially distance yourself from any other customers who may be there, and take home your own lavender baby. They offer lavender plants in a variety of sizes, for both indoors and outdoors. They also have an array of other lavender-based products available, from sachets to essential oils. You can view a complete list of their products for sale here, and even order online if you’re not able to get out to the farm. I took an outdoor plant home and am already seeing little purple buds sprouting on it!

*Lavender-by-the-Bay has set up shop outdoors to be able to still sell during quarantine*

More important than anything else, planning and taking these mini road trips is FUN. With a whole list of things that we aren’t able to do right now, it’s easy to feel like having fun has also been cancelled. I don’t know if it’s just me, but there are times that I have to remind myself that fun can- and should– still continue, even if that means finding new ways to do so. It’s really just another way to push back the negative during these uncertain times.

Have you taken any social distancing road trips? If so, what did you like or dislike? Let me know in the comments below!

‘til next time,

Lau

West Coast

An Invincible Summer

“In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger- something better, pushing right back.”
-Albert Camus

I know…it’s not winter. But we’re in some bleak times right now, and this quote has been popping into my mind frequently over the last month and a half. I gratefully count myself amongst the lucky ones- healthy, teaching from home, communicating with loved ones- and I still find myself having that middle-of-winter-gloom feeling more often than I’d like.

It’s been difficult to go this long without knowing when we can make definitive plans again. So, this is where I’m doing my best to turn back to that Camus quote. Yes, things are definitely pushing against all of us right now- some feeling heavier pressure than others.

But that’s exactly when we need to continue to push back and not let the weight of what’s going on consume us. Pushing back can mean whatever you want: trying out a new recipe once a week. Dedicating an hour (or even a half hour) each day to reading a new bestseller- or rereading an old favorite. Establishing some sort of workout routine- whether it’s walking, running, taking advantage of free online classes (check out Alvin Ailey’s dance classes here), or getting creative at home with strength training (for me, that means Netflix-binging Gilmore Girls– for the first time- when it’s time for an arm workout. I know, I can’t believe I’ve never seen Gilmore Girls before, either).

via GIPHY/Netflix

I’m gonna be honest with you- some days, pushing back is really difficult for me. On those days, doing so might simply be “I cleaned up a few things around the place, and that’s about all I can do today.” Having days like that is nothing to be disappointed or ashamed about. Just try to pick yourself back up the next day and continue to move forward.

One of the ways that I’m pushing back is by starting to plan out a pretty epic post-quarantine road trip that I’m hoping to make happen this year. Even if timing doesn’t work out and the trip has to take place at a later date, taking the time to plan this trip has been my way of bringing that travel rush back, and getting excited for brighter days to come.

HERE’S MY PLAN!

(Nerd alert ahead. My true history nerd colors are about to come out with this trip idea, so just know that you were warned…)

A road trip re-tracing Lewis and Clark’s journey.

See?! Hear me out with it, though!

In 1803, then-President Thomas Jefferson asked Meriwether Lewis & William Clark to explore the new territory that the U.S. had just bought from France. The Louisiana Territory was a massive piece of land- it doubled the size of the country. So, L&C had a pretty intense task. Their round-trip journey spanned two years (1804-1806). It took them from their starting point, just outside St. Louis, Missouri, all the way to the Pacific Ocean, near Astoria, Oregon (already on my short list because of its Goonies fame. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, please do yourself a favor and make watching The Goonies one of your easier ways to push back one day). On the way, they encountered and recorded plants and animals unknown to Americans at the time, as well as incredible scenery that they wrote about in their journals.

Road trip from St. Louis to the Pacific Coast? Sign me up. PLUS, I teach about L&C every year, so what better way to bring those lessons alive than to share some adventures with my students?

Planning a road trip can get overwhelming quickly- the possibilities of what you can do on any given route are immense- so my advice is to narrow down at least a basic list of objectives that you want to get out of your trip. I’m not saying to throw spontaneity out the window- far from it, but you need a sense of direction so that you don’t get completely lost, both literally and figuratively.

For this particular trip, I’m focusing on the history of the places that I stop at. I also want to plan opportunities to enjoy the scenery and present-day culture that the states I drive through have to offer. As I plan, I’m making sure that the stops I choose feature these objectives. I’m not even halfway done with planning yet, but I’m looking forward to continuing my research and, one day, being able to share the results with you.

The fact that this trip ends in Oregon is an added bonus. I’ve been to Oregon once before, about five years ago, and have wanted to return ever since. I can honestly say that during that trip, I really felt like I was in that invincible summer that Camus describes. Maybe it’s the laid-back attitude that Oregonians have (although, please don’t make the mistake that my group did and call it “Ore-gone”. We learned very quickly that we’d been mispronouncing it our whole lives). It could be the fresh mountain air around Mt. Hood, or the crisp Pacific air when you get to the coast. Regardless, it’s a state that I cannot wait to get back to.

*Cape Kiwanda, Pacific City, OR* *showing off those classic, rugged Pacific coastlines*

A few Oregon highlights worth mentioning:

Portland, OR: Though not the capital of Oregon, Portland is one of the state’s most well-known cities. It’s a smaller city that is very walker friendly, and on this trip, our group spent an entire day walking around to get a feel for it. Its motto, “Keep Portland Weird,” shows up in the quirky characteristics of the city. For example, Portland has an insanely awesome collection of food trucks stationed throughout the city. Over 600 trucks, located in groups, or pods, on various blocks, provide a fix for whatever you’re craving at the moment. For me, it was gourmet grilled cheese and crepes. Recommend the combo 100%.

*Seriously gorgeous floral displays at the Oregon Garden*

The Oregon Garden/The Oregon Garden Resort, Silverton, OR: An hour outside of Portland, Silverton is home to the Oregon Garden: a stunning 80-acre botanical garden. The Oregon Garden Resort is located on the botanical garden grounds. Hands down, it is one of the most enjoyable places I have ever stayed. Its serene atmosphere evokes an inviting, lodge-like feel, which continues into each guest room, as all are equipped with gas fireplaces and private patios. At night, we went to the Resort’s Fireside Lounge, where live music, a well-stocked bar, and board game-playing by the fireplace is encouraged. After, as we walked back to our rooms, we were reminded to take a moment to stop and look up at the sky. The display of stars was breathtaking, and it was here that I saw my first shooting star one night, followed by about a dozen more. Icing on the cake? The room rate cannot be beat (check out their website for more information).

Cape Kiwanda, Pacific City, OR: An hour and a half drive from the Oregon Garden Resort brings you to the famed Highway 101 and Pacific City, a coastal town that is home to Cape Kiwanda. We spent a day out here climbing and surfing down the sand dunes on the cape, as well as exploring the nearby hiking trails, which offered a lot of natural beauty. When we got hungry, we grabbed a bite at Pelican Pub & Brewery, which offered beach views along with their own line of fantastic craft beer. Fun fact: Their website has a live webcam of Pacific City, so you can see the beauty of the beach with its iconic rock formation jutting out of the ocean for yourself.

*You really can’t dream up this scenery. Plus, the hiking trails also feature gravity-defying trees adorned with a variety of bottles.*

In addition to future-trip planning, writing this blog is another way for me to push back during this time of uncertainty. I’m encouraging you all to find whatever it is that keeps you moving forward.

One final note: I can’t close this post without shouting out a major THANK YOU to everyone who continues to work outside of their homes on the front lines, doing all that they can to keep us protected. Sending love and prayers your way. Here’s hoping that you get your invincible summers soon- you more than deserve it. Stay safe.

‘Til next time,

Lau

Travel Rush

That Travel Rush

It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment that I fell in love with travel. I didn’t grow up in a family that traveled a lot, but when we made our annual Disney World/visiting-family-in-Florida pilgrimage that’s become so familiar to many Long Island kids, there was nothing I was more excited for. I remember the rush of adrenaline I got when I stepped onto a Disney-bound plane for the first time when I was five years old. Twenty-seven years later, that travel rush hasn’t just stayed with me- it’s grown stronger as I’ve gotten older and more travel opportunities have made themselves available.

I’m sure many of you have felt that travel rush and, like me, try to find the time and budget (this would be so much easier if money wasn’t involved, but alas…) to create opportunities to catch that rush again. I know it’s not always easy to do- as a teacher, I’m bound to a specific schedule that travel and airline companies are all too well aware of- but I also know that it’s worth the effort.

In this blog, I want to share that travel rush with you. There’s a hell of a lot of small towns, big cities, and everything in between that I need to check off my travel list, and I plan to share those experiences here. Planning a trip can be overwhelming, so I’m hopeful that the experiences shared in this blog can help you out in some small way. Be prepared for some history as I come across it- after all, what kind of social studies teacher would I be if I DIDN’T share my historical finds with you?

I want to hear about your experiences, too. Tell me what worked for you and what didn’t; what you recommend doing or where you recommend traveling next. I promise I’ll be honest with you- what was great, what (in my opinion) wasn’t worth a second visit. You may agree wholeheartedly, you may be conflicted, or you may disagree and scream obscenities at your screen- and that’s fine (I guess). No matter what, I hope we both come out of this with a continued desire to chase that travel rush.

‘til next time,

Lau

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HERE’S MY PLAN!

A road trip re-tracing Lewis and Clark’s journey.

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