January 2, 2009 I know now fear is a learned behavior. The question is can fear be unlearned? I was “attacked” by a vervet monkey in my camp during my 2007 trip. Attacked but luckily not bitten thanks to the close proximity of a ranger who came to my rescue. This year I was paralyzed with fear each and every time I saw a vervet monkey. Prior to the "incident" I had many close and safe encounters with these monkeys. How does one forget? How do you go back in time? I spend time a Chimp Eden in Nelspruit, South Africa. This is not only a chimp sanctuary but also a human sanctuary. What a lovely place serving an amazing cause. A second series of Escape to Chimp Eden will air soon in the USA on Animal Planet. Be sure to tune in. Then if you are ever in that area of South Africa, you must put it on your agenda. Another amazing, rejuvenating trip.

December 11, 2007 I have just returned from yet another fantastic trip to Africa. And may I say Africa never disappoints. When I leave her I am cleansed of toxic thoughts and wasted energy and ready to focus on whatever is before me upon my return. But to get that result sometime she breaks you down first. Life cleansing tears stream down my face while at a beautiful scenery watching colorful birds, hippos, baboons and waterbuck living out their life in front of me. This is a welcome part of that cleansing. It's a magical, healing place you must experience to understand.

November 28, 2007 Each time I am in Africa and turn on the radio I hear a particular song that touches me to tears and yet I can never find it when I return. I heard it this trip too. And now I know it is called "Child of the Universe". Interestingly enough this song's lyrics were taken from a letter written around 1680 - yes 1680! It was found in St. Pauls Church in Baltimore. The first phrase of the song is, "You are a child of the universe and you have the right to be here no less than the trees and the stars." The song is by Desidirata. Google it and read lyrics to live by written long years ago.

February 20, 2007 Confucius said, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Some days I feel like I need to take a new step in a new direction for a new life journey. But I ask myself, "Would I be running away from something old or towards something new?" This time in life, I want to make that decision before I take the contemplated step.  .

October 26, 2006 Yesterday, while paying my bill and booking my next appointment at the dentist, I was looking at their calendar whereby I saw preprinted on the day of October 7th "2001, the start of the war on terror". I was stunned to see that preprinted on a calendar just like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and the first day of spring. Then I began to remember that very day five years ago. I was planning my move to Africa. Two days prior I had a garage sale selling most all of my belongings. The terrorist attacks were a month behind us. Much contemplation had me concluding the events in NYC were not going to stop me from continuing with my plan. And then President Bush announced the war.... After some internal debate and ignoring the verbal scare tactics from friends and family about what might happen should I continue with my plans, I marched forth. Yesterday, standing at the counter of the dentist office, I was grateful for the fortitude I found in myself during those days. My decision to go forth changed me forever. One of the many lessons from those days is that people, for whatever their motive, will find good reasons for you not to do things that are out of societies norm. You may even question yourself a thousand times. But when you jump off of the normal train and take that unbeaten path you will stretch as a human, taking yourself to places you could never imagine - geographically and mentally. If you carry through, I doubt you will ever regret it. I certainly never have and I know I never will.