Eye-Opening Wisdom From A Millennial

Today’s Momday Motivations is about some eye-opening wisdom from a millennial. Thank heavens. If not for my 24 year-old daughter, I’d have made a crucial mistake regarding my book’s cover.

Yes, I owe my eldest millennial a lot.

Here she is in Salzburg, Austria last August, schlepping not only her travel-friendly back and front packs but my ridiculously ancient suitcase (she had to drag it as the 2 wheels barely worked), all because of my recently buggered back. Me? I got away with toting just that silver number which we lovingly called my “potato bag.”

But first, a brief explanation for the newbies. Every Monday I share a teaser from the memoir I’m writing about the miraculous changes I underwent during the decade spent soldiering alongside my Type A mother in her successful Vancouver Asian antiques and collectibles shop. Miraculous? I think so. In 1983 I went in as a reluctant, dysfunctional Summer sales assistant. I knew nothing about Asian antiques and cared for them even less, yet I emerged in 1993 as a penny-pinching bookkeeper, confident buyer and rather capable salesperson. Toss in a boss blessed with multiple personas, two murdered customers, an introduction to the chap who’d become my husband, multiple quirky clients, and six overseas buying trips and well, it’s promising to be a fun read.

My Original Choice For The Book Cover

There’s always been one certainty about this book I’m writing. The book cover photo. Yes, I’m rather embarrassed to admit that long before committing to writing the book, I knew what picture I’d use on the cover. It would be the brilliant one of Francine and I waving cheerfully from the howdah atop an elephant in the Thai jungle.

That photo had been used to great success on our announcement cards in 1987 alerting folks of our move into a much larger shop around the corner and four blocks up. Everyone was most impressed. Today both Francine and I have framed copies adorning our coffee tables.

We first rode an elephant in 1986. It was at an elephant farm outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand. I remember the cooling shade of the jungle and that we had to line up behind several groups of tourists; most of them American. I also remember being surprised at how different the motion was from riding horseback. Rather than the forward movement of a horse, this was very much side to side.

I loved it. So did Francine. So much so, that when my dad accompanied us on our next overseas buying trip, we signed up again. I got to ride on my own this time.

Eye-Opening Wisdom From A Millennial

I recently unearthed the photo album of this trip and was eager to share it with my daughter.

“Look! There’s the picture of Grandad holding out a bunch of bananas to a baby elephant. Oh, check out his shocked face. That much older elephant had just swaggered over and swiped the entire bunch out of his unsuspecting hand!”

My daughter’s reaction was alarming. She pointed out something I’d never noticed, not in person nor in the photos.

“Mom, look at the chains around that baby’s foot …”

No. Surely not. I rifled through the warped, yellowing pages of the album to prove to her that it was a one-off. It wasn’t. There are dozens of photos of elephants of different sizes and ages, all with chains around their feet and ankles. How did I not notice?

Last night she finally got me to agree to watch a YouTube documentary on the treatment of working elephants in Thailand. She wisely ensured that Poppy, our border collie cross, was nearby.

“You’re going to need to hug her for comfort, Mom.”

I did. The beating into submission of these intelligent, gentle animals had me crying within the first minute. It was horrific, eye-opening and shocking. The fact that I’d innocently contributed in a small way to this torture was mind-blowing.

She peeked at me over the bulk of the dog and asked, “Now do you see why you can’t use that photo for your cover, Mom? You’ll alienate all the millennials.”

Thankfully she’s right. Now we just need to educate the oldies like me …

Elephant Nature Park

There’s hope for these wonderful animals. I encourage you to look at this uplifting documentary about the inspiring founder of the Thai Elephant Nature Park. This is where the majority of millennials visiting Thailand now choose to spend their time with elephants …

I’ll leave you with two recent paintings of my mother’s.

The above number depicts”an eye-rolling Mama tolerating her rambunctious youngster” and now resides on a wall at the recently renovated Vancouver Children’s Hospital.

This one is entitled “it takes a village to raise a child.” I’m blessed to have it in my collection.

Enough about my eye-opening wisdom from a millennial. I’m curious about you. Have you ever ridden an elephant? Have you ever given any thought to their treatment? Better yet, what insight have you garnered from a millennial? If you’d care to share, I’d love to hear.