Not many of us are smart enough to accurately predict the future consistently. I don’t have a prediction for this year, but I hope it will be even better than the past year. I haven’t made any travel plans yet, but look forward to sharing some photos on this website and hope to see some things I haven’t seen before and get better photos of things I have already photographed, so that I can share them here. I apologize if the phrase “even better” touches a sensitive nerve for those of you who didn’t have a good 2023. For many, it turned out a lot better than the financial experts were predicting. I was pleasantly surprised. This year is a Presidential election year and that will make it, let’s say, “interesting” for those who are politically inclined. Though I grew up in the suburbs just outside of Washington, D.C., and I had friends whose parents were politicians (on both sides of the aisle) from other parts of the country, I don’t really care to follow the situation too closely. I am going to choose to be optimistic for 2024 and continue to focus on stories about nature and other things that put a smile on my face.
As I sit here in front of my old computer on a gloomy January day trying to write a post to begin the year on a hopeful note, my thoughts go to one of my heroes, a man whom I was reminded of this morning, as I watched a remake of a favorite television show from my childhood. The old show was called Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, hosted by Marlin Perkins (b.1905 – d.1986). The new edition is called Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild. You may get to the website by clicking the link: https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/ and if interested, can figure out how to watch it. I have only had a chance to watch two episodes so far, but have been impressed. It brought back fond memories of 1960s gatherings around the family TV and getting to see an exciting world beyond my neighborhood. The new series premiered in October of 2023. The original series shaped who I am today, and it is a goal of this new series to inspire the youth of today. In the two shows that I have watched so far, they pay homage to Dr. Perkins, and it serves as a testament to how one person can make a positive difference. I am going to make it my New Year’s resolution to watch all the episodes I missed while I was out of the country. I am also going to try to be more supportive of people trying to get higher degrees in the field of wildlife conservation, especially relatives and friends.
In 2024, I would like to upgrade some of my technology, including the computer I am typing this story on, the camera I use to take most of the photos (both of which are getting close to 10 years old), and the car I drive (which is 30 years old). As you can see from the photo above, I am not quick to give up on the old. I just finished fixing the toy trains above (toys that first were played with by my older brother and one of my favorite neighbors before I was born) so that my grandchildren can enjoy them.
I promised I would get some photos uploaded for people who would rather see photos of people they know, than landscapes and critters. So if you are one of those people who have a password, you can click here. If you would rather just look at animals from Botswana and South Africa from the most recent adventure, click here, (no password required), but if you have already looked when I originally posted them, they will look familiar because they are mostly repeats.
To all who read this, Happy New Year. I hope you see what you set out to see in 2024. May it bring a smile to your face.