Travel

"Travel

As much as you can.

As far as you can.

As long as you can.

Life is not meant to be lived in one place."

August 2, 2018

I love to travel, whether it is by planes, trains, buses, or automobiles.

I love visiting different places, regardless of the inconveniences of post 9-11 travel restrictions. One of my bucket list goals was to set foot in all 50 of the U.S. states in my lifetime; a feat I accomplished in 2013 after I coerced my husband into joining me on a road trip to visit the final “seven states in seven days.”

Because of business travel, I don’t get much of an opportunity to travel on a “real” vacation these days, so I try to squeeze in an extra day when traveling on business. I had an opportunity to do that recently when I traveled to Utah for a Safe States Alliance Technical Assessment Team (STAT) visit. I flew to Salt Lake City a day early to drive to Bryce Canyon. A friend who lives in Salt Lake City and my sister-in-law joined me.

My sister-in-law shares my love of traveling and visiting new places. She is a high school English teacher in Oklahoma, who also teaches Driver’s Education during the summer months. Instead of taking her Driver’s Education students to places near their hometown, she maps out routes across Oklahoma taking them on historical junkets, as well as pop culture trips to places like Blake Shelton’s Old Red Café in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. Her intent is to expose her students to as many places and experiences beyond their hometown. She cares about her students’ future. We need more teachers like my sister-in-law.

This past week, she embarked on a road trip to Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah; actually she added Utah to her itinerary when she found out that I was going to be there.

The trip to Bryce Canyon did not disappoint. The scenery was spectacular. The company was superb, providing stimulating, thought provoking, and intellectual conversation, laughter and levity, as well as many “moments of awe.”

From coast to coast, the geographic landscape of the United States is diverse; much like its residents. Just like the topography of Utah and its national parks, I believe this diversity adds color, texture and depth, and I want more of it. I want to spend more time with people who challenge my perspective like my sister-in-law and my long-time friend and colleague.

Until next time, thank you Cindy and Lenora for energizing me!