Preston

A couple of weeks ago, Kiara, our 12-year-old niece, asked me why I'm writing about Preston. To her, Preston is boring. Her mum, Steve's sister Tina, explained that it may be boring to Kiara, because she lives here, but others who don't may not agree. She used Disney as an example, saying that Kiara would be super excited about going there, but where I've been so many times, it wouldn't be as exciting for me. Although Tina's reply was a good one, I admit Kiara's question stuck with me, because she's got a definite point.

I ride the bus a lot, as folks here know. I drive at home, but I'm not about to attempt the whole left-side-of-the-road thing. One day . . . just not now. Although I must admit that I'm getting used to the road reversal to the point that when I think about driving at home, it seems odd. Anyway, I'm traveling further afield on the bus now, and I'm seeing many sides to Preston. The result: Preston is not all that great.

It has some beautiful areas with gorgeous houses, like Fulwood. And some beautiful parks. But it also has some downright scummy areas with rough-looking inhabitants. And even the nicer areas are marred by trash. I was walking along the Docklands a few days ago. A blue-green algae bloom made the water the color of Biscayne Bay - a rather lovely shade of turquoise. It was sunny and warm, but with a cool breeze, and I was just enjoying being out. Then I noticed all the garbage floating in the water - cups, cans, bottles, bags. It was disgusting. It reminded me of the big cities back home.

Traffic is miserable. Vehicular traffic downtown is thick and noisy, with people cutting others off. Pedestrian traffic on the high street is just as bad. And, no matter what the European news media may say, Americans do not have a monopoly on stupidity and self-centeredness. Don't believe me? Just walk down the sidewalk in Preston. You won't get one block before you encounter stupidity, rudeness, or both.

Modern-day Preston is a city (officially as of a few years ago)and it bears all the marks thereof - good and bad. Obviously, what makes it remarkable to me is its history. But on the surface, Preston's history is not that big of a deal. Like most English towns, it has some old churches and houses. It's a medieval town, but none of its medieval structures remain. No wall surrounds the town and dredging has changed the lay of the river. So it doesn't look historic.

Obviously, Preston fascinates me because it's Steve's home town. Through him, I am connected to it. Just as my ancestry gives me a connection to colonial America, Steve's pedigree connects me here. And in tracing his family tree and exploring Preston's history, I have discovered the diamond under all the industrial coal dust. Famous, and not-so-famous, points of history have touched Preston. It has experienced many firsts and been the site of battles, riots, and royal visits.

If it weren't for Steve, I would have never discovered the Preston behind the grimy city facade. (Okay, if it weren't for Steve, I probably wouldn't even know Preston existed, but that's not the point.) I would have taken one look at it, probably grimaced, and moved on. Instead, I dug beneath the surface and discovered a treasure trove of history just waiting to be appreciated. And I think that's a lesson we could all stand to learn.

Not every city or town wears its history on its sleeve. You can't have a Buckingham Palace, Notre Dame, or St. Paul's Cathedral in every locale. But if you're willing to peer a little closer, you just may find something worth looking for.