The past two and one-half days I have flown two red-eye flights and have viewed the London eye. At least I didn’t lose my luggage (as I did in South Bend).

On Monday morning I had the privilege of speaking at the 100-year anniversary celebration of USC’s Rossier School of Education. It was a unique and neat experience as I was there with family (my mother flew over from Arizona) and a good friend (who flew west with me from Maryland). This good friend has been involved from the genesis of USC’s on-line Masters of Arts in Teaching - the first of it’s kind in terms of technology and integration with the University. It was fun to see what he does on a daily and weekly basis; and I think he felt the same way.

We flew the red-eye home on Monday night, landing at Dulles at 5:30am. At 5:30pm that afternoon, I was back at Dulles with my family, getting ready to board (yet another) red-eye to London. Family time.

My husband works for a company that only does business internationally. He is gone all the time. For us, our summer abroad is an opportunity to spend more time as a family. While it will afford us many more opportunities in terms of global awareness for our children and experiencing life beyond Annapolis (which we will miss very much!), the most important aspect for us is being together as a family.

Over the past year I have had the true honor to share my story in person with hundreds - perhaps thousands - of people. I am often thanked for having the strength to open up and share, with strangers, such a personal story. More often than not I hear, “I know this must be so hard to share, but thank you because you really are making a difference.” I hope the latter is true; the former is not.

I do not know why it is not hard to share my story. Perhaps because I have lived with it for so long. Perhaps because it is just part of me. Perhaps because of the reaction I receive from those who are looking for hope. To me it is not hard, it feels good. For so long my injury defined who I was. It controlled my life. When sharing it with others, I am the one who is in control. I now control the goodness it gives to others and not the sadness it represented in my life for so long. Because my life is anything but sad.

This is one reason I am studying for a Masters in Arts in Teaching. I love to teach - whether it is History or about life. Being able to share one’s gifts is a gift itself and one I am honored to do.

(Next up: part II - the London Eye)