The Importance of Elsewhere

One of the main reasons I like listening to Jimmy Buffett is that he is a storyteller.  On his most recent album, he has a song titled “I Want to Go Back to Cartagena” that talks about his desire to see the world and how much he sees this as an adventure.  There is a part of the song that talks about how “the importance of elsewhere is still that important to me”.  I truly understand that feeling.  It is probably one of the reasons I enjoy my job.  In the last couple of weeks I’ve been in Turkeytown, Two Egg, Scrambletown, Gainesville and Bushnell.  I’m writing this in Pensacola, and will be all through the western part of the panhandle by the time you’ve read this. 

I’ve also come to the very strong belief that one of the best things my wife and I have done for our son was to let him understand the importance of elsewhere.  Right now that is coming strongly into play.  I’m also happy to report, that even with the current happenings, Dad here has not started fueling the helicopter with a setting of ‘hover’.  So far, I’ve been able to keep that helicopter in the hanger.

So what is going on?  Well, Ian is now down to about seven classes left before he finishes his associate in science degree from the local college.  He wants to continue on to finish his B.S. degree.  Ian still wants to be a cartographer.  He has been looking at colleges that have the appropriate programs.  We’ve already toured Lenoire Rhyne, in North Carolina.  There are 3 or so schools in Florida we will be looking at.  We will probably be taking a look at R.I.T., in Rochester, New York.  And finally, Ian announced that he wants to take a look at Montana State University in Bozeman, MT.   That last one was a bit of a surprise….  But his rationale is valid.  The school offers the program he is interested in.  Ian also pointed out he already knows the town, since we’ve been there a number of times, and actually been on the campus a few times as well. Also, he also knows someone going there already.  So…we will see what happens.

The point is, however, that Ian sees the world as an adventure.  He is not afraid of the world, but wants to experience it.  Ian does not see the world as a scary place, and does not see his special needs as a limiting issue.  Instead, part of the adventure is how to navigate around them.  He revels in the differences between people and cultures and environments.  Fits well with his interest in cartography as well, does it not?  Also, isn’t it better to go through life seeing it as an enjoyable challenge, than something to be afraid of?  I know too many people who fit the latter description, and not enough who fit the former.  In the long run, I truly believe this desire to see, to go, and to do serves every child well.  It creates curiosity, and curiosity needs answers.  To get those answers, you explore, and when you explore, you learn.

Ian and I were talking the other day, like we usually do, and he told me he would really like to go to the Masai Mara or maybe Indonesia.  I told him I would really like to do the former, but I’m not really interested in the latter.  Mom then asked Ian where he was planning on planting the money tree he would need to harvest to get there.  Ian did what he normally does with those kinds of questions – he just laughed and said just wait.   I don’t doubt that someday he will get there.  Ian definitely does understand the importance of elsewhere.