MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2024 - NEW ADVENTURES

 Monday, June 10, 2024 -New Adventures

I’m a big proponent of new adventures, from small events to big trips. Every year, I want to have something memorable.

In 2024, (the last two weeks), I went to two new state high points (New Mexico and Arizona), my sister’s 80th birthday, my first (and only?) trip to the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, and Bryce National Park (and camped in a tent). I'm up to 15 state high points.

In 2023, I went to Big Bend National Park (and camped).

In 2022, I camped at Black Mesa (high point in Oklahoma), Mount Sunflower (high point in Kansas), and Panorama Point (high point in Nebraska). I also attended the Nebraska State Fair.

In 2021, I went to Guadalupe Peak (the high point in Texas) (also on my way to the Phoenix area - to visit my sister).  I also attended the West Grant class 1971 reunion in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.  (And visited the high points in Arkansas and Illinois).  (And in September, I started working part-time at Wesleyan Homes).  (Oh, I had “gender surgery”).

In 2020, I took the train to Phoenix - and we were delayed due to a body hanging from a railroad overpass!  I also worked from the primary early voting through the general election. 

In 2019, I went to my Fiftieth Year College Reunion in Winona, Minnesota.

In 2018, I moved out of my home (in Leander, Texas) to an apartment in Georgetown, Texas, and started meeting new people.

In 2017, I had major surgery (and I’m lucky to be alive)

In 2016, I retired from the University of Texas.

*****

Okay, you get the drift.  I like something significant and out of the ordinary to mark the passing of a year.

In traditional measurement, we had stones every mile (aka “Milestones”).  I like having something unique.

Do you have some special memories?  Maybe with your family?  Year 20XX was when <somebody> was born, graduated, married, or died. 

Some things happen that we don’t quite mark the occasion.  Maybe something like I made coleslaw for the first time, I met Rita and Mary.  I joined the Bluebonnet Philharmonic Orchestra.  (Or I joined the Williamson County Symphony - Brushy Creek Brass Band - or Hamden Symphony Orchestra)

There are also the negatives.  I realized at the Grand Canyon that I was out of shape - and had shortness of breath.  (Gee, Karen, get in shape again!!!)

What do we do with time? At some point, time will cease in this life.  

Some days might “live in infamy” (like Pearl Harbor Day or D-Day) 

When did I first embrace “LOVE WINS”?   When did God become real to me? It seems to have been a gradual change.

LOVE DOES WIN

LOVE DOES TRANSFORM EACH OF US

Karen Anne White, ©, June 10, 2024