Defining Moments

I couldn't sleep, as usual, and had this topic on my mind lately. I wanted to get it written down, and perhaps it may connnect with you in some way. There are moments that were very defining in my life. Some were inspirational, some were sad, and some were frightening. But they all made me the person I am:

- Watching the sun set behind the Twelve Apostles in Australia. More than anything, this has been the single most inspirational point in my life... more than anyone can imagine. I want my ashes spread there. (for photos, see below)

- The days my mother and father died. I was never that close to them, but I have felt more lonely since. (One of the many things that feed my abandonment feelings.)

- The day I left my hometown of Lumberton, NC to live in Germany. Those two years were the turning point of my life. It was truly a Godsend.

- The day I completed my first marathon. That was a goal that took hard work and self-motivation. I also thought I wouldn't live to see the next day! I have since done three more.

- The first night I saw the WW II memorial in DC. I can't put my finger on this one, as to why, but it touches me, and the water fountains are exceptionally calming. Go on a hot, arid night - spectacular!

- The day I brought my cat, Jacob, home for the first time. As every pet owner knows, that unconditional love is un-matched.

- The moment I saw my first coral reef in Bonaire on my first SCUBA trip. Breathtaking...

- A quiet moment I stood alone at the bow of a cruise ship in the dark hours of the morning. It was worth the whole trip for those few moments.

- The first concert I sang at the Kennedy Center.

- The day my mother told me she had cancer.

- The moment I discovered what 'religion' means to me.

- The ferry ride at dusk, returning from Alcatraz to the wharf in San Francisco.

- The quiet moment, just at dusk, when the mist settled on the mountainside at a lodge I was staying in the Smokies.

- The first meal I had with Joe at the mall in Chapel Hill, NC. He had a bigger impact on my life than he probably knows, now.