Travel. It's Good for You

I’m very fortunate to have the ability and opportunity to travel.

I believe going to other places, seeing how other people live, learning about area history, and getting a glimpse of the majesty of the earth God created would help all of us see the world from other perspectives. 

Maybe there would be less hate in the world if everyone could visit the oceans, the mountains, deserts, and, of course, miles of Midwest cornfields.

I just returned from a "girl’s trip" to Florida on the Gulf coast. Here are some of my favorite things from that trip.

 

The sun sets over the Gulf.

Four adult dolphins help the baby (in the center) learn how to dive and breathe. It was fantastic to watch!

This picture is a favorite because of the old pylons. The birds seemed unconcerned by all the people and boats buzzing around them.

Flora and fauna are always my favorite things to explore. How about a few red, white, and blue flowers in celebration of Independence Day!

911 Memorial outside a local fire station. Never forget.

When given the chance, travel.

Until next time,

Be Good to Yourself!

~Nadine

Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone

I had my very first Jet Ski ride this past week. It was scary. It was fun.

Three friends and I took a girls vacation to Florida for a few days. While we were there someone (named Tara) came up with the idea to rent Jet Skis. (I’m unsure of the actual brand of personal watercraft we used, so for simplicity, we’ll just call it a jet ski- - kind of like facial tissues are called Kleenex. But I digress…)

Yum! Iowa corn-fed! Tastes just like chicken! 
(Courtesy of Google Images.)

I was less than thrilled. I don’t like deep water and I wasn’t too keen on being shark bait. But, I didn’t want to be a party-pooper, so I went along with the idea.

We rented two jet skis and rode double. Two of the girls were experienced drivers and riders.  Two of us had never been on a jet ski. So it was deemed that the experienced girls would drive us newbies around.

Tara rode with Becky. I rode with Karen. Becky is nice. Karen? Not so much.

I knew that riding with Karen would be an adventure. She’s kind of a crazy girl sometimes and even as I protested, she told me to step out of my comfort zone. 

It would be fun, she said.

 This is what I DO NOT want to happen to me!
(Courtesy of Google Images.)

As soon as we hit the end of the no wake zone she hit the gas! I thanked God right then and there that I was holding on tight. I told her that I would be super scared if I fell off and asked her not to do anything that would cause me to do so.  She honored my wish- just barely.  We went straight but we went FAST!  (No donuts! Thank Goodness!)

One time we both bounced on a big wave. Even though I was laughing, I was terrified when we separated from the seat. My zany chauffeur slowed down for a while to let me catch my breath, and from that point forward, if a big wave came our way she either slowed down, or warned me before we went through it.

Karen and me before I peed my pants. (We did wear life jackets.)

I had a blast!  I would do it again. I gave Karen a lot of grief over the next couple of days; contending that her driving abilities were less that optimal, but really, it was so much fun.

I have a pretty long list of fears. Some of them I’m trying to conquer. Some of them are better left alone. The Jet Ski Event was a step forward for me. I’m proud that I didn’t let my fear win out.

But don’t get crazy, here. I’ll never go haunted housing (again). Also, I will never para-sail.

So what fears do you want to conquer? I’ll send my friend Karen right over- she’ll take care of ya!

Until next time,

Be Good to Yourself.

~Nadine

My Bucket List

A few years ago the movie Bucket List was released. In that movie two terminally ill men decide they needed to do some things they’ve always wanted to do before they “kicked the bucket”.  From that movie we got the now popular term “Bucket List”  

While trying to fulfill your bucket list may sound morbid, it’s really all about remembering to take being alive seriously.  And to NOT take life too seriously.  It’s about being cognizant and taking advantage of the joys our world can offer. It helps us to remember God’s grace is good and that health and time are gifts.

I’ve been lucky enough to have most of my professional bucket list items realized over the years, before bucket list was even a thing. With the help of my husband, I finished my college degree while raising our children. I became a teacher when I was older than the standard age of a first time teacher. I taught in the school district I deemed “the best” and was my target district- as the first (and final) assignment of my public school career.  I taught at a junior college (although not college students). I taught English as a Second Language and I now work at a public library.  Wow! Pretty impressive, if I do say so myself!

Just recently I returned from a trip that was a personal bucket list item for me, and I’ll get to that in a little bit.  First, I want to say that I had planned to write about this topic a couple of weeks ago, before my trip, but another event side tracked this topic. (See my post from January 13, 2016.)  This bit of information is important, because I KNOW that my before-the-trip- post would have been starkly different than this after-the-trip-post. Had I written about my trip being a bucket list item BEFORE the trip, it would have been a sparkly post. But. This is after the trip-- a post trip post, if you will.

What if something on your bucket list doesn’t live up to your expectations? Tim and I went to Key Largo with family and good friends. I’ve always wanted to go to the Florida Keys, especially Key West to walk past Hemmingway’s place. And while we had fun with our family and friends, the trip was a little disappointing because it was cold, rainy, and windy most of the time. We didn’t see or do most of what we had planned.  The weather reminded me of March in Iowa. That Damn Damp Cold we get here in early spring - it seeps into your bones. (Poor baby me. I got cold in Key Largo in February. BooHoo.)  Right. I agree.

But I'm thinking on a more philosophical level right now, so I’ll ask it again: What if something on your bucket list doesn’t live up to your expectations? 

Maybe you’re standards are too high?  Maybe you don’t always get what you want?  Maybe what you think you want is not what God wants.  Maybe weather happens.  I don’t know the answer to this question.

I do know that I’m typically a “glass half full” type of person, so even though I didn’t get to see and do all that I had anticipated, I do realize that I’m lucky to be able to take trips.  I don’t take that for granted.  I love seeing new places.  I’m glad we did have the few good hours of heat and sunlight that we did get, and I’m happy that my friends and family who traveled with us are all doing well.



Me.
 Wrapped up in towels and reading at the pool.
(The beach was too windy and cold.)

I doubt that I’ll ever get back to the Florida Keys, and that’s o.k.  I’ve been reminded that events are what you make them… And that Florida can get cold, even for and Iowa girl.

Until next time,

Be good to yourself.

~Nadine