Reflections on Three Excursions in 2024

Hello,

I've skipped three seasons on this blog, so happy spring, summer, and fall. One of my friends asked about Marimba and Ice, so that was a nudge to revisit, recreate a new password to access my yahoo email account (yes, I'm that old), and just start writing again. (Thank you, Cynth'ya.) 

I think 2024 has been the busiest year travel-wise that I can remember. Steve and I cruised on the Carribean, visited Florida, Aruba, Curacao, and Labadee, Haiti. It was my first cruise sober, and I left that ship a still sober woman. Was it easy? Not always. Was it worth it? Yes. Here's a question to ponder: why is alcohol the only drug where people question you if you don't partake?  

In July-August, we went on our yearly trek to Gen Con in Indianapolis, IN, which was okay because we had a hotel room at the airport. We're rethinking Gen Con-it's getting expensive, and the whole lottery with hotel rooms is dicey (no pun, intended, actually.) It's getting harder to justify the trip. I was able to spend some quality time with a dear friend. 

In mid-October, I attended and presented at a conference in Tucson, Arizona. It was the first time--and hopefully the last time--I'll fly alone. I needed to do it for confidence reasons. I now know that I am able to do it. Being brave is doing the thing even though you're afraid. 

Admittedly, I'm reflecting back on these getaways, and each one posed a separate challenge that was overcome.  Despite irritation with insomnia from this raging sinus infection, a sore back from stitches (margins are clear), and an obnoxious orange cat, I'm trying to end this blog on a positive note, so I'll just include a scenic photo from Tucson.