Getting ready

This trip has been in the works since March, which seems like years, until I think that I am only 11 days away. What began as a trip to Botswana to visit with my late brother-in-law's family has become a trip of a lifetime that I will share with a longtime friend. Since this is my first blogging experience, readers will need to bear with me as I learn about the process (and I suspect myself). So, let's begin with me.

I'm a 61 year-old semi-retired librarian after almost 38 years in the profession. Technology has changed my profession especially in the last 15 years. I never touched a computer until 1984, and in addition to learning to blog, I recently joined the Facebook community. Since, beginning this blog and while learning about Facebook, I've been telling friends that I feel like a grandmother learning with my grandchildren, except I don't have any grandchildren. The library profession has kept me tightly linked to technology, which I embrace slowly.

Blogging is now being added to my experience because of the growing number of friends who want to be remembered with postcards during my trip. I suddenly realized that my budget would be greater than planned for this pleasure of staying in touch while away. I don't have an international capable cell phone, and will not have my laptop with me. So I will rely on family, friends and other Internet access opportunities to post to this blog. Besides, as a friend said to me, I won't kill any trees if I don't buy postcards.

I'll add more thoughts as August 11th comes closer. I think my first comment from a reader will be almost as exciting as this first post. Help me tell you what you want to hear.