Prisoner of Hopes

Category: Uncategorized

  • The Power Of Community

    I love gatherings. But most of all I love gatherings that foster a sense of community. Gatherings that promote unity, coming together, and connections. These are hard to come by in modern American life. Sure, there are plenty of things to do and places to go. But intentional community wide celebrations are almost relics of…

  • Labors of Love

    I used to look mother in disbelief when she said that she liked to do laundry. For me, a mother of two with a demanding full time job, laundry was a dreaded chore that had to be crammed into my weekend. It was always a scramble just to find all the pieces of clothing and…

  • Of Outhouses and Other Surprises When Nature Calls

    Bathrooms. Lavatories. Loos. Water Closets. Toilets. Powder Rooms. Out Houses. Johns. Ladies Rooms. Mens Rooms. Cans. So many names and none of them exactly topics for polite company. This morning, however, I find myself thinking of bathrooms. When I was a kid, my brother used to throw a fit to use the bathroom everywhere we…

  • Perspective

    This photo, taken recently, is a favorite precisely because I was startled at the beauty of the bloom. I generally find cacti ugly, horrible little plants. They are designed to take in water and air while keeping everything else away. It is easy to be injured if you are not careful where you tread. Hiking…

  • Scottsbluff: A Lesson in Life: Travel Goals

    I love national parks!  I feel almost giddy each time I get to cross a new park boundary.  I have a passport book that I stamp each time we go to a new visitor center. The green ranger suits and the round hats are a familiar and comforting presence.  I know that I am getting…

  • ON THE ROAD AGAIN

    And so, we set out on our journey.  Part celebration of the end of a long career and part hopeful new beginnings.  Retirement…end or beginning?  I choose to dwell on the beginnings.  All the packing and the planning ends the moment the journey begins.  RV in motion. Truck in tow.  We take to the backroads,…

  • The journey begins…again

    Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken. — Oscar Wilde. Today I start a new beginning, at 56. For the last 32 years I have been an educator and before that I was a student. Perhaps this explains why I am full of questions. Intellectually, I want to know. I find beauty in human diversity.…

  • Introduction to Prisoner of Hope

    Why write a blog? Today I retired from education, but in my head and I am still a wide eyed little girl wanting to make a difference in the world. I still have a voice and want to continue to contribute to the betterment of society. What is a prisoner of hope? This post is…