Though some of the passport stamps require a photo and more recently, bartenders in a college town’s lodge have required reading and reflection, I’ve not yet been tested in order to obtain a stamp for my McMenamin’s Passport. And yet, I was compelled to take notes during the presentation.
“Up until the age of 6, kids have a unique connection to the paranormal.”
“There’s quiet and then there is mausoleum quiet.”
Loren Christensen’s (http://www.lorenchristensen.com/) comments were carefully recorded in my little book I’m pretty sure I was the only one taking notes during the presentation. His words fascinated me.
Because I spend most days in an elementary school, I was wildly intrigued by Christensen’s words. When people talk about kids, my ears perk up. Having recently taught kindergarten for a WHOLE school day, I was especially interested. I’m always looking for ways to better understand the behaviors of our youngest students. When I first watched Grimm (https://www.nbc.com/grimm) I’d started imagining that some kids on some days could indeed be Blutbad as they seemed to go a bit wild during certain phases of the moon. It seemed equally likely that younger kids could have a unique connection to what Christensen referred to as “residual energy”. Unfortunately, the dysregulated behaviors of students entering our school system are more likely attributed to too much screen time.
Because I spend most days in an elementary school, any type of QUIET is also alluring. Very briefly, I considered finding a mausoleum where I could hang out for extra special quiet time.
I started my McMenamin’s Passport Tripster journey nearly two years ago. My youngest son had just graduated from high school and my husband and I had free weekends for the first time in nearly 30 years. Luckily, the passport quest allowed me to harness positive aspects of my need to check things off a list and my gift of procrastination by structuring a “to do” list that encouraged us to spend time together adventuring around the Pacific Northwest. 
Who knew pub tours could be so interesting?
