What aspects of your cultural heritage are you most proud of or interested in? – A deep question from the daily writing prompt.

First I had to look up cultural heritage to make sure what I was thinking would be the right interpretation. I’ll probably still screw it up.

I guess the first way I started to think of it would be referred to as human cultural heritage. I often think of my parents and grandparent’s history. My grandfather was in WWI and passed as a young man. The difficult times my parents grew up in as children in the depression era of the 30s. Then as a young teen going into the Navy and then WWII breaks out shortly after his medical training.

Then off to the Korean War and on early expeditions with the Navy to Antarctica. Unfortunately, he died young and I’ve missed the opportunity to get the stories and his interpretation of that history. I did get from my Mom several key things from their generation.

One is that women have incredible strength. She raised my sister and I herself and worked very hard to do that.

Respect for elders. Respect for Service Members. Respect for the Medical Profession. Respect for all colors and ethnicities. Respect for Women. Respect for Country.

I was taught to be appreciative of what I have and was given. I was taught not to be wasteful with food or money. I was taught to be thankful for a roof over my head. I was taught that it was good to work hard and that if you want to get ahead outwork everyone else.

My Mother was a very good volunteer. Now that I’m retired I can make that part of my heritage so my kids might think to continue it.

I see another aspect of cultural heritage is defined as – including traditional clothing, tools, buildings, artwork, monuments, and modes of transportation.

I have some drawings from the aunts who helped raise my Mom from the late 1800s and early 1900s. They are quite good. Also sketches from my Mom who was also quite talented.

I didn’t save any of my bell-bottom jeans or tie-died tee shirts. The monuments of our hangouts are long gone for the most part to development. My old motorcycle and my favorite old car and probably in scrap yards. I do have some small trinkets and tools that are family items and meaningful that I will pass on to my children.

My cultural heritage as far as a physical area is Howard County, Maryland. Wow, what a change. Most people who have left and come back don’t recognize most of it. But I can still go to the basketball court I grew up playing on and shoot.

I had started a blog post about my work history and the buildings of significance (The Washington Post building on 15th and L Street NW DC and The Flier Building in Columbia MD) that were demolished and scheduled to be demolished shortly. Just as the history of Newspapers is quickly fading into the past.

My parents taught me to love baseball. And I do.

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