Teddy Was One Smart Cookie (And my parents are, too.)

I keep a small list of historic and living legends I would love to meet, even though many are not possible --- Abe Lincoln, Susan B. Anthony, Hillary Clinton, to name a few. How incredible would it be to sit down over a cup of coffee and absorb their knowledge and experiences, to bask in the presence of great leaders who rose to the challenge of their times and were forward-thinking and, at times, revolutionary in their approaches.

After a recent trip to Yellowstone National Park, I have delightedly and without reserve added another name to this list --- President Theodore Roosevelt, the father of the National Park Service and staunch conservation advocate. It is no secret that I am huge NPS fan --- in fact, I am a proud owner of the Annual Parks Pass and have set a life goal to see every one of the 360 plus protected lands. I have a long way to go, but thanks to my parents and their influence, I’m well on my way.

When I was growing up, I clamored for the toys and fads of the moment --- an Atari game player (For younger readers --- the precursor to today’s X-Boxes.), Barbie dolls (My mom refused to buy us these because she didn’t want to suck up the high heel shoes in the vacuum cleaner, she said.), and any number of silk shirts (all the rage in seventh grade). The answer to all three requests and many others was always no, with the exception of a mint green and cream stripe silk blouse found on a sale rack toward the end of that respective fad. Instead, my parents invested the money in my sisters’ and my futures --- education and traveling.

Beginning since the age of 9 or so, my family and I embarked on a vacation every summer, timed with the crop schedule. No matter north, south, east, or west, we managed to find every national park, battlefield, or monument along the way, fulfilling my mother’s quest that every trip had to have some sort of educational focus. As such, I quickly grew to love the national lands, as well as hiking, camping, and enjoying the great outdoors. Our family vacations are our favorite memories --- the time the bison wandered through our tent site at Yellowstone licking salt off our grill; the time we got soaked crossing near Niagara Falls; the way my dad used to pretend he was Toonces the Driving Cat while whipping around mountain curves. By the time I graduated from high school, I had traveled to nearly all of the continental United States, as well as Canada and Mexico. Not too bad for an Iowa farm kid.

If only Teddy could see the NPS now --- a fantastic array of historical, natural, and cultural sites that tell the American story in an honest and unpretentious manner. What an absolute brilliant and passionate visionary he was --- and how fortunate we all are as a result. So grab your camera, tent, and map, and hit the road. Take the time to discover, learn, and protect these great lands --- our collective responsibility to honor and maintain. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

And, Mom and Dad, many thanks for not buying me that Atari.