Stone Soup by Jan Eliot for January 17, 2014

*Chuckle…

Let her go its not like she has been far away before. She is a world traveler with the wind in her sails

Oh, ouch, Holly! It’s true, but still, ouch!

Yes, South Africa does have some no-go areas, but so does London, New York and many other large cities. One thing that tourists do need to remember is to not draw large sums of cash from automatic teller machines, especially if they are dressed in holiday clothes and have a large, expensive camera over their shoulders. Sometimes their accents give away the fact that they are tourists and vulnerable. Yes, we do have a high incidence of house robbery and drug-related violence, but following a few simple rules of prudence and caution will protect one in all normal conditions. Having said that, I love this beautiful country that I was born in and i have no yearning to live anywhere else in this world.

Holly gets her sense of “humor” from Evie, obviously.

@RWJAMES Holly is so funny! I took Evie’s look as “my you are growing up a bit”, as opposed to “I’m taking you out of my will young lady”. Holly did come up with the First Heart Transplant fact that took place in South Africa a few days ago. It’s good she is mature enough to be included in the mother-daughter conversation. P.S. A couple of days ago a reader wrote that Evie should just stay put helping with the grandkids. I totally disagree. Evie has been their rock a lot more than other grannies. She needs to live her life. She’s fit, active and her still has her wits. She raised her two daughters. When our only child is finally on her own we totally intend to do things we put off because of always putting her first. Call us the, “can’t wait till the 20 year old is on her own” couple.

A little creepy that this runs right after a 51-year-old Danish tourist got sexually assaulted in India….

Is that quote from “Knock on Any Door”, a racy book all the kids had in the 60s?

You’re safe when they shovel in the dirt….

Just a little push down the stairs for Holly… Enough to get her, but not enough to really hurt her. :-)

Holly-ARIOUS! Good one, Jan. And lighten up, lightenup.

Agreed Holly.

OUCH!

Holly wants Grandma to go so Holly can have her room again and not have to share with Alix.

Count the English speaking places that you might consider if you had to leave your country – New Zealand, South Africa are the top on my list. there is cold Canada, the British Isles and Ireland, Austrailia. You can get along in many Asian ports(Singapore) for one. Seriously, South Africa is supposed to be beautiful and they don’t hate Americans.

I don’t really care to travel, but if my man wanted to, I would. I had enough travel with my long distance affair. Better to have someone near home ;-D

And I can imagine my older granddaughter saying something like that; the younger one (by one year) is much more polite and has better grades. She’ll be going to a good college next year.

Any large city has areas to avoid and it is best not to be out alone anywhere in the world late at night. There is safety in a crowd of friends and usually in your own or friends’ homes, other than that (as someone said) safety is when no one can harm you further (gone).

I’ve been to South Africa—it’s absolutely stunning! Loooonnngg flight from Toronto, Ontario; first flew to Atlanta, Georgia (2 hrs), and from there to Johannesburg (16 hours!). Then, from Jo’berg to Port Elizabeth (1 hr charter flight) and a 1 hr drive to St. Francis Bay! Yes, there are dangerous areas, but there are dangerous areas to be avoided in any city—even places in Toronto.