Auburn, part one

The mission of my last post was simple. I needed to speak the truth about what happened so that I could finally begin the process of shedding some of the layers of pain I’ve amassed over the past nine months. I’m happy to report that it worked. I’ve even had a few recent mornings begin with a smile on my face and a song in my heart. I like it. And I like knowing that normal me is still in here somewhere. Make no mistake, my protective little cocoon will be in place for some time to come, but I’ve poked a hole in it and I’m forcing it open a teeny bit more every day.

Since I am feeling more like myself, I’m ready to bring the focus back to one of my dearest passions, travel. A few years ago, Mr. C and I ventured out and about for a series of truly magnificent historical day trips. I’ve already posted about one of them here. Today, I’m going to provide part one of another option for your very own Upstate New York history-is-fun-day. Let’s go!

About an hour away from Syracuse or Rochester, and two hours from Corning or Buffalo, in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York, is the town of Auburn. It sits just a few minutes north of Owasco Lake and twenty minutes from Cayuga Lake. It’s an area ripe with local farms and is easily accessible from I-90. There’s even a nearby outlet mall, if that’s the kind of activity that floats your boat.

On this particular day, Mr. C needed some new shoes because, you know, he always needs new shoes. I swear, if I stare at his bare feet for a few minutes, I can actually watch them grow. It’s like one of those videos of a plant sprouting from the ground, reaching for the sunlight and blooming, all in 60 seconds, except that there is no time-lapse here. We’re talking real time. Not to mention real money to keep his feet in shoes that fit. Hence the visit to the outlet mall before we began the real event of the day, our trip back in time.

New shoes in hand, …erm… on foot, we stopped to visit one of my all-time heroines, Harriet Tubman. When I think about courage, determination and strength, her name always rises to the top. Most American schoolchildren know of Ms. Tubman because of the many valiant trips she made into the slave holding south to lead others north to freedom via the Underground Railroad.

What you may not have heard is that she was a woman who wore many hats. During the Civil War she was employed by the Union army, initially as a nurse then later as a scout and spy. She was the first woman in U.S. history to lead a military expedition. Let me give you that sentence one more time. She was the first woman in U.S. history to lead a military expedition. Bravo, Ms. Tubman! Thank you for paving the way.

After the war ended, she settled in Auburn and devoted her home, and the rest of her life, to taking care of others. She opened the Home for the Aged. This home, now called the Harriet Tubman Home, was the first stop on our history day tour and it was here that we learned so many fun facts about this impressive human being. The guide was knowledgeable and her enthusiasm was contagious. The house itself was interesting, but could certainly use some financial support to help it reach it’s full potential. But honestly, that mattered very little to me. I was more interested in Ms. Tubman’s life and that story is told here in fascinating and thorough detail. It’s well worth an hour of your time if you’re ever in the area. But, before I move on, I have a confession to make. I slipped a sandal off for a moment in her kitchen and put my bare foot on the same wooden floor Harriet Tubman walked on a hundred years earlier. Fabulous!

From here we ventured into the town of Auburn. Having just learned all about Harriet Tubman’s unusual life, I felt it only appropriate to visit her grave site in Fort Hill Cemetery. I have to admit, I was expecting some sort of monument or spectacular headstone commemorating her service to others, and to her country. Instead, we found a clean, well-kept site with a simple headstone and an American flag and plastic flowers for decoration. If anyone deserves a grandiose memorial it is most certainly Ms. Tubman. But, as I stood there paying my respects, I recognized that she might like it exactly the way it is. She wasn’t a conductor on the Underground Railroad or scout and spy for the Union in order to garner praise. She didn’t lend support to the suffrage movement or care for poor, elderly former slaves because she wanted eternal fame or glory. She did it because she knew it was the right thing to do. The world would be a much better place if we all took page out of Harriet Tubman’s book.

At this point, I’m pretty sure your attention span has reached its limit. So, since I have much more to share, I’ve decided to split this post in two. Next time we’ll talk about two other stops on our Auburn history-is-fun day.

But before I go, I’d like to leave you with my sincerest thanks. I received an avalanche of kind words after my last post, both on my site and in other forms. Your words truly made a difference and I’m beyond thankful to have such supportive friends and family. Thank you.

Until next time…