Lately I don’t look forward to the same family traditions like I used to. I didn’t used to be like this and find it’s a byproduct of sobriety. And so the thought of going to the same Oktoberfest that we’ve already been to 9 times in the last 10 years held as much appeal as a trip to the hardware store.
My family did not share the same epiphany that trying new things is more fun than sticking to what we already know we love. And so I met general resistance when we headed to the new-to-us Reading Liederkranz Oktoberfest celebration, which only grew when we had to park in a muddy field in the rain and catch a shuttle bus.
(Have you been on a school bus recently? And I mean one barreling down steep, wet hills or straining to climb them, always seemingly on the verge of losing control or tipping over? One of the many gifts of youth is we don’t appreciate the daily dangers we lived until much later.)
This “new” Oktoberfest turned out to be so much fun. 4 out of 4 family members said they would go back. And remember, 3 of us don’t drink so it was all about the food, music and people in lederhosen cracking whips on the dance floor. (We saw a slightly different version, but still, whips!)
On the way there, my husband noticed a sign for the Reading Pagoda, and we took a slight detour on the way home to check it out. Perched at the edge of Mt. Penn and lording 600 feet above the sprawl of Reading, Pennsylvania is a 7-story Japanese pagoda. Built in 1908 as a luxury resort, the original owner had to sell it when he ran out of money and the city denied him a liquor license. The next owner sold it to the city for $1, which is how much it costs now to climb 87 steps (verified by my kids) to the top for sweeping views of the city and closeups of Wawa and Chik-fil-a signs through the 25 cent tower viewer. That’s what my kids zeroed in on anyway.
At the top, we also found a Japanese bell cast in 1739 and inscribed with an end-of-time prophesy, as well as assorted memorabilia behind glass cases. It smelled old and familiar, like my grandparents’ basement before Sunday dinner. My husband said it smelled like “hot dog farts” which was probably more accurate since I did notice a woman eating a hot dog in the ground level cafe.
This is why I get tired of sticking to the same tried and true favorites. We’ve lived within an hour of Reading for the past decade and finally got there. We plan to head back soon, but next time we’ll try something new and that wasn’t even my idea.
Cool cool cool!! Plus – When I don’t drink at stuff I used to drink at, I get to see things like a kid again.
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Yes! There was a year or two where being around booze was rough and maybe not advisable, but such a gift to appreciate old things without that particular filter.
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I love trying out new things and re-visiting the old. Headed to Sugarcreek OH tomorrow, shopping in Amish country! xo
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Sounds like a fun trip…enjoy the scenery and shopping!
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It can be so challenging to step outside of our comfortable place but really, this life all about the adventure! That pagoda sounds SWEET!
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The pagoda was awesome…wonder how many gems we’ve missed. Gotta keep our eyes open.
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Have you been to the Reading Railroad Museum? I remember going there as a kid and that my mom and had had a brass bell that came from the Reading Rail Road – mom thought she’d use it as a dinner bell for us since we lived in the country – but I don’t think that worked out the way she planned.
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I have not but making a note to check it out! Reading Railroad, like Monopoly 🙂 That’s a great dinner bell story. We have one in our backyard but I usually just have to holler up the stairs.
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I had no idea we lived in the same corner of the world. I’ve been wanting to get to the Pagoda for years and never seem to get up there. Last week, I visited the Wolf Sanctuary of PA….which is in Lancaster County….30 miles from my house and until last week, I had no idea it was there.
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Neat! We’re in Chester County, not far from Lancaster. We’re totally checking out that wolf sanctuary. Thanks for the tip!
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They told us it’s better to visit in the colder weather because the wolves have their full coats then. Just something to keep in mind as you plan. Enjoy!
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Reading is my favorite kid pastime. I can’t wait til my kids are at an age we can read some classics. I think I still have some years yet to go.
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I live in Reading in the UK. Whenever I check out the weather on my weather app it offers me information about Reading Pennsylvania. From now on I can think of the sunshine and rain coming down on a seven story Japanese pagoda and this once mildly irritating mishap will make me smile.
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That is an awesome way to look at it, Juliet. I get a place in France when I type in my 5 digit zip code on weather.com, so I know the irritation.
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