Intimate Seminary Tour

Seminary Ridge 6/14/06

On a pleasant Wednesday evening a couple from southern New Jersey joined me out on the Seminary. Only one couple! It was the middle of the week, early in June, so sometimes these things happen. I took advantage of this situation by completely changing my tour for one night.

Rather than put on my normal "song and dance," I just talked to this couple like we were having a normal conversation. I told all of the stories, but without alot of my tone of voice changes, specifically timed pauses and some exagerated body movements. Those who have been on my tours can attest that I talk with my hands! It was refreshing. I got to see how the story, really stripped down, made this couple react. There was nobody else to read so I could focus exclusively on them. I think I really learned alot from this tour.

The couple that joined me had a pretty good time. They practically had a private guide. They were asking some really good questions and I walked them all around the campus. I took them to places that I never have taken other groups. I also spent close to an hour and a half with them when I usually finish that tour in an hour and ten minutes. It was a great time!

From tours gone by... I remember a tour early on in my tenure at Ghosts of Gettysburg that was only 3 people. A very nice gentleman brought his mother and his son to Gettysburg for a little get away. My wife, who was my girlfriend at the time, also came along. This little kid was around 9 years old and curious about everything. That was back in the day when we gave both a Baltimore St and Carlisle St tour in the same night. These three people were the only ones I had on both tours! That was the first Carlisle St tour that I ever guided and I was nervous, so I was off the hook a little. Sometimes the smaller groups are the most memorable.

Sleep well...

"Rick Saunders"