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Rhonda's Africa Journey 2010

My First Entry Mar 26, 2010

The next journey begins.... I am inspired to start this trip journal in loving memory of my cousin, Billy Atchison of Red Deer, Alberta, Canada who passed away suddenly February 22, 2010 while in Mexico touring on his motorbike. His trip journal has inspired me to write my own.... enjoy! A little about me.... I am a single mother of one beautiful adult daughter, whom I adore. I spent all of my adult life creating a safe, loving home for my daughter and I. I knew that one day I would be able to spread MY WINGS and fly and that time has come. It became clear to me that life is way to short when first I lost a dear co-worker to cancer and a few years later we lost my daughters father suddenly, at the age of 50. I was amazed how ones perspective of life changes when you lose someone at what should have been the prime of their lives. My outlook took on a much different perspective, from living to work, to working to enjoy life. I made a list of things I wanted to do and am determined to do them before I die. The list will keep growing and growing I am sure, as I work less and play more. I always wanted to try skydiving, so after some friendly persuasion from a more adventurous person than I, I did it, yes I jumped out of a perfectly good airplane and made it! What a thrill to see the world from a parachute! Then when searching the web for a trip involving swimming with wild dolphins, I came across an advertisement to spend a week in the Silver banks (near Dominican Republic) swimming with the Humpback whales.... It was so right, so me, I just had to go! After some long discussion I finally talked my best friend into joining me and away we went! What an adventure, what an amazing life altering experience, what a dream come true! I have always wanted to get involved in more humanitarian efforts and six months later another opportunity fell in my lap. Long story short, I gave my boss a few days notice and caught a plane to Hawaii where I met a group of people from all over the world gathering together to spend a week "Awakening their Brilliance" in Humanitarian efforts. We helped several families, we laughed together, we cried together, we played together, we grow as human beings! It was amazing! During that trip I was blessed to join a small side group of beautiful, spiritual people on a boat that was going to spend the day respectfully swimming with the wild dolphins. Words can not express the exhilaration of this adventure! This event also opened up an opportunity to go to Africa the following year, another dream of mine, on the "list" since childhood. More on that later... So here it is March 2010 and after 20 years working in the Corporate world in Occupational Health & Safety, I have hung up my hardhat to take an entirely different direction in my life. I am not sure where I am going, but I do know that there are no limits. My belongings are in storage, my house will be up for sale in the spring and after my October 2009 trip to Africa, I am going back. I met my sweetheart a year ago, he is now in Africa fulfilling his dream and I am going to join him. OUR Africa journey will begin on April 14th, 2010, and I intend to share the highlights of my second trip to this amazing culture through this site! Stay tuned for our Africa adventure. Rhonda :)

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