I find December 31 a good time to take stock of what happened in my life in the previous year. In some ways, 2011 was very different for me, and in other ways it was the same. As I did last year, I will share some of these remembrances with you.
I spent the first two weeks of January 2011 finishing up my stint at Anahuac NWR. One of my proudest moments came when I was honored with The President’s Volunteer Service Award. I still have that letter signed by President Obama.
The middle of the month found me at Thibodeaux’s Premiere RV in Scott, Louisiana, having my new residential fridge installed and some other work on the rig. Little did I know that this would start a theme of residing in repair shop parking lots this year. While I was waiting I tried my first shrimp po-boy, and toured a number of places in this Cajun area.
Then it was on to Gautier, MS, for a three month volunteer stint at Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge. To my great dismay, this morning I found that one of the folders of pictures from my time there is missing. 
About all I have left are mostly flower pictures from the three hiking trails. When I get a chance, I’ll have to have my oldest son see if the folder is tucked away on the computer someplace that I don’t know how to get to.
I guess it’s a good thing I’ll be returning there so I can try replacing many of those pictures with this year’s experiences. At this point, I don’t even have one picture of a Mississippi Sandhill Crane.
When I left the refuge in May, I had to make another stop at Premiere RV to have the MCD shades installed, and some other minor maintenance items taken care of. While there this time, I toured the Tabasco factory on Avery Island, and my finished memory quilt was delivered to my daughter’s house.
The battle of the squirrels ensued while I camped all summer in Indiana close to my daughter Robyn’s house. While there, my sister and I took a trip down memory lane by visiting the neighborhood we grew up in in Chicago.
So many memories were made with the two grandgirls this past summer! My new name became Belt, and Phoebe’s became Buckle. 
I also checked out how well hung the Jolly Green Giant is on one of my fast trips to South Dakota to renew my driver’s license.
Then as I tried to leave Indiana in September, I ended up spending another three weeks in a repair shop parking lot because of no brakes. I found some things to do to keep me busy while waiting. A day after I got back on the road, my new refrigerator broke which resulted in me only having a cooler until I made it back to Premiere RV for the third time this year. I have ended up living for two months this year in repair parking lots. Not a record I ever hope to break.
Toward the end of October, I finally made it back to Anahuac NWR almost a month late for my assignment. These picks were taken in the last three days as I made one more farewell trip through the refuge. I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, but I sure hope Murphy leaves me alone in 2012.
I wish you all a Happy New Year, and hope you’ll continue to come along with me on my Travels with Emma.
Thanks for stopping by… talk to you next year, Judy
