Aunt Bytes - The Findings Of Nurse Brenda, RN, BSN

I just don't understand it. When did the answer to the question "How was your trip?" change into an algebra test?

I'm supposed to calculate my miles per gallon, as well as know down-to-the-minute how long the trip took, including how many stops I made. Why? Who cares? I don't.

We've lost our sense of adventure. We're too busy. We have to get to our destination in the shortest amount of time as possible. I blame the interstate road systems in the US. This is not such a long stretch if you think about it from a different perspective.

Back in the day...not so long ago.....people actually enjoyed the trip! Some even took their time! That's because there was actually something besides billboards to look at. There were small towns to be discovered, diner food to be choked down, and in many places, the most spectacular views!

"But my vacation is so short and there's so much to do at Disney World!" Sorry, that doesn't fly. Disney World is so huge that you would need over a month to see it all. And just think about how much cooler your kid's stories will be to their friends when they talk about petting the manatees at one of the natural springs down US 19.

That's just one example of how you can make a small change and reap a big reward. I'm sure if you put your thinking cap on, you could alter your next vacation in order to slow down a little and enjoy the sights.

Me...I'm a gardener. Both my thumbs are green. So I'm always on the lookout for plants growing like weeds in public areas (like on the sides of the roads) that mimick my own yard and garden. Hey, free plants! And even though for every five I bring home only one lives, I still get the one that I didn't have before! And those "ones" add up after a while.

We also scavenge for shells every chance we get. We love rocks with character, and we're always on the lookout for twisted driftwood. We love using these natural elements as decor in the flower beds and potted plants.

So forget about the miles-to-the-gallon, and start calculating your smiles-to-the-gallon!