The American Dream
I first stepped onto American soil in 1986 it proved to be a homecoming for me. Growing up in the 50s and 60s I was totally immersed in the cowboy life with television programmes such as Laramie and Rawhide acting out in the fields with my pony, one day an Indian the next a cowboy. In the years running up to 1986 I was totally obsessed with all the American dramas and read many books by American authors allowing me to familiarise myself with all things over the pond.
My first of many trips came about after having recently been operated on for a peritonitis, my mother in her wisdom decided she would look after my business while I took a break to recover and suggested I went and stayed with some very good friends who lived in the state of Ohio. Naturally I thought it an excellent idea. Not having a great deal of money, I found a very cheap airline, it would cost return £99 with a stop to refuel in Gander, Canada. Not having travelled much other than to France, Greece and the Netherlands it was a daunting experience as I would have to wait for a connection in Newark. I am a fairly confident person and take everything in my stride which is just as well when halfway through the flight the attendant comes and sits next to me and tells me I need to pay for my ticket! My heart quickened, and I informed her that I had already paid, and would she please check the records again. With relief she came back and said that she had made a mistake. There was no in-flight meal or film to watch and I think the plane was tied together with string.
We landed in Gander or should I say in the middle of nowhere to refuel and then we were on our way to Newark. There were no major security hurdles as there are today and passport control were fascinated by my name. I then had to look forward to 7 hours before my connecting flight to Cincinnati. This is when I started writing a journal every time I travel because after some 40 trips to America I have to remind myself what I did and saw.
The song about the lights of Cincinnati are very true and I think of that trip and my first sight of them every time I hear it. I love the city it was so big and clean and buildings were so tall very different from back home in Herefordshire.
After that initial trip I have been hooked and any excuse to return has been welcomed over the last 40 years. I have holidayed, gone on business and had a short spell of (unpaid)work and have travelled more than 15 states and have made many friends which have become family.
On returning to the UK I am always homesick until I get back on the plane to what I feel is more than my second home.