We Were Similar to the Early Settlers - By Chris Sebranek and Vicky Holtman

We Were Similar to the Early Settlers
By Chris Sebranek and Vicky Holtman
May 3, 2008
Perhaps it was a coincidence or maybe a crafty teacher’s plot, but upon reflection on out trip, it seemed we underwent a simulation of many of the perils the early settlers and forefathers had faced. For instance:
1. They had the Virginia Company and we had the Virginia Fund to pay for our voyages.
2. We took three buses, they took three boats.
3. We drove to the Atlantic, they sailed across it.
4. There were days when it felt like it was taking five months to get to Virginia. It did take them five months to get there.
5. We had 140 voyagers that included 31 men, 37 women, 36 girls and 36 boys. They had 144 voyagers all of whom were men with 4 of them boys.
6. We were not prepared for the many weather elements we faced—rain, tornados, cold, or hail just as they were not prepared.
7. We brought provisions as they did.
8. We traded money for food, drink, shelter and souvenirs. They also traded with the natives.
9. We carried heavy, backbreaking suitcases across dark parking lots and up steep stairs. They too carried their heavy provisions ashore, often in the dark.
10. We were often denied access to basic human needs—denying ourselves liquids—praying for the next rest stop to come only to wait in long lines at the “privy.”
11. There were moments when our angry meltdowns would qualify us to be the next witch in the “Cry Witch” production.
12. We had so many bad hair days that we wished we could shave our heads and wear wigs just as the settlers were able to do.
13. We had had settlers return back to Virginia—two, three and more than four times--much like John Smith and John Rolf—to bring new settlers back to the rich world of knowledge.
14. We have done things to test ourselves, boat rides of past voyagers were so rocky that preventative Dramamine was taken. Our boat ride proved to be beautiful with many dolphin sightings.
15. They felt like they had found paradise—we found Sunshine Paradise.
16. We went in search of the history that they made.
17. The settlers had fearless leaders—John Smith, Thomas Jefferson, the Wright Brothers, and George Washington. We had Lloyd, Jerry, Tom, Mr. Hulbert, Mrs. Cannistra and Mrs, Warr.
18. They had Pocahontas to guide them. We had the helpful ladies at the front desk of the Holiday Inn Surfside and at the trolley station.
19. We felt like the lost colony when we came to Pittsburg where we were taken into a room with unfriendly natives. We were absorbed into their culture of music.
The settlers had made a new world just as we have made a new world of memories with our children. We will always remember the fun, the laughter, the dropped ice cream, dancing in the ocean, running up and down the dunes, and playing games at the rest stops. We will remember the late night runs to 7-11, the tavern games at Williamsburg and so many other things. Our resilience and their resilience helped us brave all of the unexpected. As a result, we had made memories to last a lifetime.