Nothing But the Road and the Radio

People often ask me how I can get in the car and drive alone (which I don't get. It's the 21st Century, girls can do that sort of thing now). I know that for many people that getting in the car, fighting traffic, and navigating for hours can be so tedious, but for me, it's complete and total relaxation.

We all have different ways of dealing with the stresses in our lives. Some of us run, some of us drink (ok, we all know I'm lying if I say I don't do that), some of us take a walk, but me, I prefer being behind the wheel of my car with nothing but the road and the radio (with a mix of junk food, Starbucks, and diet cokes). I have a very diverse mix on my iPod; country, 80s rock, 2 Live Crew, and everything in between. And when I'm behind that wheel rocking out, the stresses in my life seem to disappear momentarily and reflections of the past, present, and future run through my mind.

For me, a road trip provides me with an overwhelming sensation of excitement and relaxation. I'm excited because I'm heading to some place fun and possibly new to see a great friend and/or wonderful family member. And I'm relaxed because while in that car looking at the road ahead, my mind is at ease and I achieve a sense of peace. A sense of satisfaction because I have nothing to do for the time being except to enjoy the road and the radio. And I get to do it all while being a first hand witness to our beautiful country.

Guest Post from Senior Chief Petty Officer and Author: John Quinn

Recently, I was surfing the web for children's books that have characters with children of various ability levels for my classroom. The reason behind this is because I believe that being exposed to various abilities, is just as important as being exposed to various races, ethnicities, and cultures. However, as I was searching, I came across author John Quinn, who wrote the memoir: Someone Like Me, An Unlikely Story of Challenge and Triumph over Cerebral Palsy. It is written in his own words and tells his story of over coming Cerebral Palsy and becoming a Senior Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy; the second highest rank for an enlisted person in the Navy.

As a special educator, I was very inspired by his story. Because one thing that I try to instill in my students early on, is that their disability is not a limitation on their life. Instead, I try to help them discover what their ABILITY is.

Mr. Quinn was gracious enough to be a guest blogger on my sight today to share with all of us his take on the word disability. I also invite all of you to read his book and check him out at: www.johnquinn.com

Pushing Yourself to Find Your Ability

The word disability really bothers me. Look at the word again. I am not an English major, but I know that the prefix “dis” means the absence of. So the word disability means the absence of ability. If that’s the case, then yes, I have a disability. I cannot do fractions. In fact, when it comes to anything having to do with math, I struggle mightily. When it comes to home improvements or car repairs, I don’t know which end of the screwdriver to hold. Another disability.

But there are many areas of my life in which I am very capable. Some big, others small. Everyone has some ability to offer this world. You just have to find it. It might be hidden deep down inside you, just yearning to come out. For my disabled friends, don’t let your handicap hold you back. Don’t listen to the people that tell you it cannot be done. My parents told me that I could do anything that I put my mind to and I believe that to be true for anyone, regardless of obstacles faced. If you don’t push yourself to find your ability, who will? Franklin Delano Roosevelt suffered with polio and became President of the United States. Albert Einstein didn’t talk until the age of three and was severely dyslexic. The English author/poet Milton lost his sight at the age of 43 and then wrote the classic tale Paradise Lost. How about Bonnie St. John who won silver and two bronze medals in the 1984 Paralympic Games as a ski racer; graduated with honors from Harvard University won a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford. Did I fail to mention that Bonnie has one leg? What would the world be like if these people had given up? Can you imagine FDR saying, “I can’t do it, it’s too hard.”

Have you always wanted to paint but thought it was a waste of time? Perhaps you've felt a strong desire to get up on stage in your community theater but were ridiculed when you shared your dream out loud? I have been laughed at. Most people thought it was nuts for a guy with cerebral palsy to even dream of joining the Navy. Mocking turned to cheers 20 years later when I retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer. When I decided I wanted to write my memoir, some scoffed. “You’ve never written anything before. “What makes you think you can write a book?” Well, Someone Like Me, An Unlikely Story of Challenge and Triumph over Cerebral Palsy was published this past April. It appears that I have the ability to put my thoughts down on paper is such a way that others enjoy reading them.

You might not become President of the United States, discover new math theories, or write an epic novel. But then again, you might. So I ask you. What’s your ability?

My Bucket List

With 30 looming on the horizon, it has really made me look at my own mortality. It's not that I think that I'm going to shrivel up and die once I hit the Big 3-0. It's just that it makes me realize how precious our time here on Earth is. After all, these 30 years have flown by faster than I would have ever imagined. It seems like only yesterday my PaPaw was walking me home from kindergarten. And here I am.

I have also realized that there are so many things out there that I want to see and do before I die. And if I don't write them down make the list immortal in cyberspace, I may never do them all. So here it is: Katie's Bucket List

1. Go skydiving. I can't really explain it. It is just something that I have always wanted to do; free falling through the sky and landing in nature. I can't think of anything more exhilarating and peaceful all at the same time.

2. Visit Australia. As far back as I can remember, I have always wanted to go to this country. I am fascinated by all it has to offer. It has such a vast array of people that extend from city goers to Aborigines.

3. Take a road trip to no where. Half the fun of traveling is getting there. Well, I say double your fun and make the whole trip about getting there! I just want to get in the car with nothing but a fun friend, good tunes, and my GPS and set out to NO WHERE! I think it's a wonderful way to experience life, culture, and our wonderful country!

4. Learn to scuba dive. Ever since my dad rented me Free Willy to watch on a snow day when school was canceled, I have been fascinated with marine life. I would love to one day be at one with them. Experience their world.

5. Visit NYC with my mom. My mom and I have both visited NYC on separate occasions and both have a love affair with the city. However, we have not been there together. We talk about it all the time, and one day, it will happen! I envision us going to the statue of liberty and visiting Ellis Island and walking through the same gates her great-grandfather came through when he came over from Ireland. I can't wait to see a Broadway show with her and eat a gourmet cupcake in Times Square. Hell, we might even dance the night away in Harlem!

6. Have Something Published. I have always had a passion for writing. It has something that I have enjoyed since I was a kid. Not sure why. I have always found at as a means of relieving stress and worries from my head. And although having your mother and friends tell you you have a knack for writing, nothing would make me prouder than to have something I created, published, for the world to see. And nothing would mean more to me than to have people, who have nothing invested into my life, to pick it up and enjoy what I have to write about.

7. Visit Every State in the United States. Although I have been to many different states, I want to see them all before I leave this world. I truly believe that we live in the greatest country on the planet. And I want to see every wonderful and different people, place, thing, food, and fun that it has to offer.

8. Go On A Game Show. I feel like I've already been cheated out of this one. When I was in college I tried out for college week on "Wheel of Fortune" and I made it all the way to the final and didn't get picked. But I WILL redeem this one day. I have a few games shows I would like to go on, but other than that I'm not picky about which one. However, I would prefer Wheel (if they'll have me this time), Price is Right, Let's Make a Deal, or Press Your Luck (if it ever comes back on!).

Skyline Chili

Cincinnati

2008

My Word: SPONTANEITY

My last blog was about the wonderful book/movie Eat, Pray, Love. For those of you who haven't read the book and/or seen the movie, one thing she does while on her journey is to find her word. The word the defines how she lives her life. And THAT is what I'm going to share with you today.

I had to think long and hard to find the word the defines how I live my life. I mean, there are many words that can define who I am. Sister, daughter, friend, teacher, writer, smartass. But I wanted the word that defines how I will live my life. That word is: SPONTANEITY. Which is the act of being spontaneous.

Although I believe that there is a certain amount of planning and organization that is necessary in order to carry on day to day, I love setting out with no plans and having the time of my life. The best memories of my life are from days, nights, and in the wee hours of the morning when I had absolutely no plans. I could go on for hours with the things I've done out of spontaneity, but I'll just give you a brief run down. There was Spring Break '99 when me and a life long friend of mine had a very adventurous night in Key West that involved a beach and a Navy base. Probably not one of the wisest choices that we ever made, but surely one of my fondest memories of high school. Then was when I got my tattoo. I was walking down Canal St. in NOLA with my girl Andrea and decided I wanted one (I had always wanted one, but was scared my mom would be mad at me!). So we stopped, and I did it. Got a shamrock on my back. And to this day, I don't regret it and don't think I ever will. I can't wait 'til my own children ask about it one day and I tell them about getting it. And how their grandmother didn't like it when she found out and still doesn't like it! Then there was the day I met Bill Clinton. I remember it was a Friday, because that year I didn't have students on Fridays. I read in the paper that Bill Clinton was going to be making a campaign stop for Hillary. Since I had always been fond of the Clintons, I wasn't going to miss this for the world! So I took a half day off, got there first, and shook hands with #42. When I told him I was a teacher, he thanked me for being a teacher. Words that echo through my head every time I have a bad day and feel defeated at work. Then there was the infamous 2 Live Crew Concert. I had gone out for sushi and drinks with some girls from work, and ended up sneaking into the show and danced to nasty music all night long. There are many other moments of spontaneity in my past. Many random road trips to NOLA and ending up in the only hotel in America with no phone book and a number to a cab that was disconnected. Going out for a quiet evening and partying 'til the sun comes up with complete strangers. There is even the time I found out my Cats were playing in the tourney in NOLA and minutes later I had tickets in my hand.

I love living life without a plan. It adds variety to what would be an otherwise mundane existence. I think there is a lot of truth to the saying "The best laid plans fall flat". Because the best memories of my life, were not planned out at all. I would like to say that I wish I knew what the rest of my life had in store, but that would that the spontaneity out of the whole thing.....

Katie & Jen

Leesville Toga Party

Circa 2007

Eat, Pray, Love

The novel Eat, Pray, Love has for a long time been one of my very favorite books. It is the wonderful and almost unbelievable, but true story of a woman's search for self-realization. Although her life is wonderful, she realizes that there is something that is missing. So she sets out for a year long journey to find out who she really is. She spends four months eating her way through Italy, four more praying her way through India, and the final four loving her way through Bali. At the end, she finally has a sense of peace and a better understanding of who she really is.

Now that this wonderful novel has become a motion picture, I have realized once again what a great story it is; a story I think that all young women should read and learn from. Last week, Julia Roberts was on Oprah, and Oprah asked her and others what the words Eat, Pray, Love mean to them. So, I've decided to share with the blogoshpere what those words mean to me.

EAT
Webster's dictionary defines the word eat as: to take in through the mouth as food : ingest, chew, and swallow in turn. However, there is much more meaning to it than that. For many women, including myself, the word eat and the action of eating is almost a taboo thought. From a young age, many women are made to feel that by eating, we will ruin our figure and in doing so, we will change or perhaps damage the perceptions that people have about us. However, as I get older, I realize that tomorrow is never promised, so while I'm here, I should enjoy eating the best foods and savoring them while I can. I should eat what I want, enjoy it, and not worry about how it may affect my love or social life. After all, like it says in the book and movie, no man ever left the room with a naked girl after he saw her stomach. He was just glad to be in the room with a naked girl. Also, I think that there is a social pleasure that also comes along with eating. I love getting together with friends both old and new over a good dinner or a girls lunch. It's such a pleasure to enjoy savory foods while catching up on each others lives.

PRAY
The word and action of praying takes on variety of meanings to people all over the world. I would even venture to say that most people would describe the word pray in vastly different ways and give it different meanings. To me, pray and praying takes place at the end of the night when no one else is around. It is accepting that there is something, a power, in this world that is bigger than me. Although I am not always sure who or what it is, I believe that there is someone or something out there pulling the strings of the universe. I honestly believe that there is no such thing as a coincidence and that things that happen, happen for a reason; even though we may not realize until way further down the line. So when I pray, I talk to the person pulling the strings. And for whatever reason, I whisper. Not sure why. Just what I've always done. Also, it's a part of my routine every night....I can't go to sleep without doing it.

LOVE
Initially, when we think of love, we think of flowers and roses and romantic dates. But I believe that love extends into having a passion. Whether it is a passion for a person, place, hobby, or thing. I believe that in order to add purpose to my life, I should try as hard as I possibly can to love every aspect of it...both good and bad. I love my job and the impact that it has on this world. I love to travel and experience new cultures so that I can better understand the world in which I live in. I love my friends and family because they are they keys to my past, present, and my future. I love the look on a parent's face when I told them their child spoke for the first time in class. I love the feeling I get every time I step off a plane in a new travel destination. I love the excitement that takes over my body every time the Cats win. I even love sleeping in on the weekends, drinking a cup of black coffee, and catching up on reality TV, because it truly is the little things that make life worth living.


With all that being said, I plan to Eat, Pray, Love, my way through the rest of my life. I feel that by doing this, like in the book and the movie, I will find the truer meaning of my purpose in this world.

And for those of you who have read the book and/or seen the movie, I'm still in search of my "word". The word that will define how I live my life!

Over Halfway There........

The other day, I recently realized that I am over halfway finished with my 20s farewell tour. And in just four short months, I will hit the Dirty Thirty. Although I'm still not thrilled about it, I'm slowly coming to terms with it. After all, it can't be that bad. People have turned 30 for years and have lived to tell about it.

I do have to say that so far, this last year of my 20s has been an awesome one. A roller coaster ride of sorts. I have learned more about myself and others than I ever thought I would. I used to think I liked red wine, and I've learned that I love white. I've even rediscovered my love for the Counting Crows through the magic of Pandora Radio. I'm also slowly learning that each and every year of my life has a significant purpose and lessons to be learned. Maybe 30 won't be as bad as I thought and I can't wait to discover what the next decade is holding in store for me. Life, after all, is all good.

Sometimes a Song Says it All.....