South Africa

More than nine months ago, I found myself not wanting to face the last few months of 2017 in a typical way. I was already having a particularly challenging year personally and was determined to reach a certain milestone in less than typical fashion. Those that know me well understand that I do not settle for mundane adventures. Plans were conceived and set into motion for an escape, as you will, which included flying thousands of miles away to a far off and exotic land, and quite literally to the tip of a southern continent, as an effort to hide from time and oneself. It seemed like the perfect thing to do.

Believe it or not, South Africa was not my original choice location for this important life journey, but it was one that I now realize had to happen for a reason. One that I couldn't fully understand until it was experienced and now reflected. It ended up being the the perfect adventure, the perfect life lesson, the perfect memory of a thousand lifetimes.

South African Penguins - Boulder's Bay, South Africa, September 2017

I was so blessed to experience so many amazing adventures that included swimming with Great White sharks, witnessing one of nature's seven wonders, Victoria Falls, from a pool within the river overlooking the very edge, I watching a pride of lions hunt only feet from me at night, being surrounded by a herd of 50 elephants all wanting to take turns playing in a mud pool. I was fortunate to see a Black Rhino close enough to stare into his eyes and I was nearly chased down by a very unhappy hippo. I also tasted fine wines and wonderful ethnic foods. There was so much more I could describe here but this post is already so long. All of these were such wonderful lifetime experiences but ones that I realize I could have experienced from watching shows on Public Television.