Yesterday, the last U. S. survivor from the Titanic passed away. She was 99. When the Titanic sunk, she was a 5-year old girl, so she also was the last survivor with any memories of the sinking. The other two survivors were both less than 6 months old in April of 1912.

What does this have to do with dreaming? Well, of course, the architect and owners all thought the Titanic was unsinkable. But they were arrogant about it, not simply adventurous. There's a lesson in this for all of us dreamers!

Here's a picture of Norman taken by my friend, June. This was taken at the start of the Iditarod in 2005, when Norman was 99 years old. He last ran the Iditarod at the age of 84 (I think). He climbed Mt. Vaughan, a mountain named for him in Antarctica, at the age of 89. Sadly, Norman passed away in December of 2005, just days after his 100th birthday. What a life he lived! What a model for all the rest of us.

I spent last summer in the Tetons, gazing at scenery like this every day. I saw wildlife every day, mountains, rivers, and lakes. Wildflowers blooming, sunsets and sunrises, trees swaying in the breezes -- all were like aphrodiacs to the senses, awakening the spirit of adventure.

The Tetons inspired me in so many ways. Even now, far away from them and back home, I can go there anytime I want, simply by closing my eyes and dreaming...

One of my favorite people in the world was Col. Norman Vaughan. Explorer, gentleman, intrepid adventurer, Norman was always willing to try new things, to step boldy into the unknown, just to experience something new. His motto was "Dream Big and Dare to Fail." In many ways, I've always been a big dreamer, too. I just haven't mustered the same level of daring as Norman did.

I've been lots of places, and want to go to so many more. Here, I'll share some of my adventures and some of my hoped-for and wished-for explorations. Too, I'll explore my mind and things in my heart as well. At the very least, it will be an adventure. Time will tell whether the adventure will take wings.