Vacations Happen; Even to Me

“So, Mom,” I said.

“Yeah?”

“So here we are. We’re strolling down the street in Leavenworth, in America, looking at German buildings. We’re eating gelato, the Italian equivalent of ice cream. I’m carrying the set of Russian dolls that I just bought, plus a hair clip and some candles from an Asian boutique. You’ve got a sack of stuff from a fair-trade shop that carries products from Africa and South America, and you’re thinking about whether to let Chris buy that sword from the Australian import store. So my question is – where do the penguins come in?”

An awkward silence followed.

“I mean, that...