The Cultural Blanket

It occurred to me, that we oftentimes talk about culture as "baggage", something heavy, that we carry with us on our journey of life, that might also hinder us from moving on, if it is too heavy or bulky.  Considering myself a global nomad who  has pitched her tent in many different places before, I prefer to look at culture as a blanket, something that is ours, that feels comforting and safe.  A blanket made of different fabrics, having many different patterns, different shapes, yet providing the same purpose, no matter where you live and who uses it.  It can be rolled up to rest a heavy head, tied across a mother's back to hold an infant, placed over a table to provide a child with a secret cave and keeps you warm when it seems chilly.

Exposing ourselves to different cultural norms, demands from us to peak out from underneath that blanket, to observe what is new and to take in what seems strange.  Someone once told me that our lives are like tapestries, that are not always a perfect texture, but might have an odd string of yarn woven crookedly through it, our journey through life, sticking out for everyone to see.  That reminded me of a quilt, which represents a story, patched together from scraps and sown by different hands, who all contributed to create that special blanket.  It is not the sort of blanket that is folded up inside a linen closet or tossed hastily over a chair; it is displayed, evenly spread across a bed, for everyone to admire.

I love having my own cultural blanket.  It did certainly come in handy when culture shock had set in after an international move, and I could not get myself to peek out from underneath.  My blanket felt too familiar, and I was not going to give up that comfort quite yet.  Eventually, I realized that it is ok to peek, maybe carry a small piece of that blanket with me, much like "Owen"in the adorable book by "Kevin Henkes", who is so attached to his fuzzy and worn security blanket, that his mother decided to cut it into small pieces when Owen started school.

Having a small piece of our cultural blanket in my heart, allowed me to find the courage to "confront" new cultures, which enriched my life so much, that it felt like I had exchanged small pieces of my cultural blanket with friends I made when making their country my home.  It allowed me to bloom where I was planted.

Gretl: K-9 Companion and Savor or Carpe Diem

This morning, like every morning, I walk around our nearby lake with our labrador mix, rescue dog and trusty K-9 companion by my side.  I remember when my husband and two sons expressed the wish to own a dog.  They knew they had to get my agreement first, so they practiced patience and perseverance at their best!

Now, almost 3 years after adopting this black, energetic and very determined pooch, it is hard for me to imagine not having her around.  Her wagging tail, which is always curled upward and moves in constant perpetual motion, is testimony of her happiness as much as ours.

Over time, we have created an entire parallel universe around her existence, an accumulation of stories adding to her already vivid personality.  These "tales" give us so much fun, that even my teenage son finds it to be a distraction from life's challenges.

Beyond the unconditional love that we all receive from our dogs in particular, we also learn to look at the world from their perspective.  There are treasures out there that we might overlook in our busy lives, would it not be for our dog's nose persistently scoping out the unknown.  It invites us to stop, admire, smell the flowers, listen to the birds, spotting a turtle and practice more "carpe diem".

Now, that the "dog days" of Virginia have started to announce summer over night, our dog will take things a little slower, find a cool spot under the table and probably miss the crisp mornings, when she felt like she had to greet the world with an extra amount of friskiness.