Month: February 2026

Given the choice of anyone, with whom (living or deceased) would you like to have dinner? I have reflected on this question with hypothetical responses. Being shy, it is hard to think about carrying on a meaningful dinner conversation with someone whom I admire. On the other hand, my choices reflect aspects of my personality.

I think of three people readily that would be my choice. My mom is my first choice. I have had dinner with her many times, but I would love to have one more time. I think about the discussions I had with my parents around the kitchen table in the last several decades. I remember fondly the two Christmas eves that mom and I (just the two of us) shared at a restaurant after going to church. I value those memories and would love to have one more opportunity.

Since the upcoming 7^th anniversary of my mother’s passing in a few weeks, I have reflected on what I knew and did not know about her life, especially her last years. I know about her, but I am not so sure I know how she felt about aging and her declining health. I would like to be able to talk about these attitudes and feelings, but now I can only speculate.

The second person that I immediately think about is Jane Addams. Although I am not an historian, I have dabbled in writing about her and her influence on my chosen profession in recreation. She was one of the most famous people in the United States at the beginning of the 20^th century. As the founder of Chicago’s Hull House, she aimed to improve the lives of immigrants in the city as well as throughout the country. Jane Addams was an outspoken pacifist and was strongly associated with the peace movement. I would love to have a conversation to discuss her ideas.

Although I would be tongue tied, I would like to have dinner with a current figure, Rachel Maddow. She is a prominent American television host, political commentator, and author. I admire her intellect and straightforward commentaries. I know something about her life but would love to be in her presence and hear her speak about her career and her challenges as well as future aspirations. I know it would be an intellectual and straightforward discussion.

These dining partners reflect my values and aspirations. It is fun to think about possibilities, but more important is to enjoy the current dinner opportunities I have in my life that are not hypothetical.

The TV program, Seinfeld, was famously dubbed “a show about nothing.” I sometimes feel that these blogs are about nothing. I write about things that are interesting to me, but I recognize that some people could view the musing as about nothing. Writing about nothing, however, does not mean it is not important. It could suggest that there is no plot, no agenda, no argument—just attention placed on an “ordinary” life in hopes that it may be interesting.

I enjoy the process of writing. My daily journalling is private only for me. On the other hand, I have delighted for decades in sharing my thoughts with others and hoping they will have meaning from time to time. I hope my journal articles from my past as well as my current creative writing have redeeming values depending on the reader’s perspective.

As I look back on the almost six years and 250+ blogs I have written, I see my ideas as fitting into four not mutually exclusive “nothing” categories: triviality that matters, wandering travels, wondering mind, and daily routines.

I enjoy writing about trivial observations that matter to me. For example, I wrote about coffee cups that were important to me. Another entry was about why pie has been significant in my life. Nothing happens, but something is observed.

My writing about nothing reflects wandering purposely for travel in the world as well as to natural environments close to home. I love to write about nature and what I observe related to animals as well as their anthropomorphic views of the world. I enjoy thinking about how to advocate for animals as well as noting their habits.

Since I titled this blog, wanderingwonderingwithkarla.net, I like to write about questions that I have about the world in which I live. Entries about the families we create as well as reflections on notions of resonance offer no resolution. They reflect no moral or lesson but an acknowledgement of the existence of a myriad of ideas in my world.

My writing about nothing also relates to routines in my life that reveal my personality. I enjoy thinking about my volunteering as well as the role that daily walking plays in my life.

I have stayed away from writing about politics in these blogs even though I am tempted. Many people can state political analyses better than me, and I also know that my readers profess a spectrum of opinions. So, I prefer to focus on nothing.

I hope my writing feels quieting, observant, sometimes funny, sometimes serious, and/or sometimes challenging. I will continue to write regularly not necessarily about events but from my consciousness, which is everything for me.

When I was a child, I decided that if I did something good, I should get paid for it. My parents did not believe in paying us for expected work. Our duties were assumed. We got a weekly allowance for doing our chores. When I questioned what my pay would be for something I thought was extra, my mom remarked, “You’ll get your reward in heaven.”

As a first grader, I did not feel that waiting to go to heaven was what I needed. Over the years, however, I have learned that doing good things without recognition or reward is what it means to be a compassionate human being.

I continue to wonder, nevertheless, about what it might mean to get to heaven. What is heaven, anyway? Experiencing heaven on earth is important. On the other hand, I also contemplate what the afterlife might hold.

I want to believe there is a heaven. I fantasize that the animals I have loved will be waiting at the rainbow bridge for us to go together. I look forward to the possibility of reuniting again with loved ones. I recognize that heaven is perceived in similar but diverse ways depending on one’s spiritual and religious convictions. Heaven can range from eternal paradise with God to liberation from the cycle of rebirth. Paths vary to get there, but most have in common faith, good deeds, spiritual realization, or fulfilling divine commands.

Growing up in the Christian tradition, I came to understood that heaven in the hereafter was only possible by faith in Jesus Christ with kind deeds reflecting that faith. Heaven is a celestial paradise with eternal life in God’s presence. Despite what my mom suggested, being a good person would not have been enough without that faith. In addition, I cannot understand how anyone can say they are a Christian and then be cruel to other human beings.

Concepts of heaven differ for Jewish people but most focus on the world to come in the spiritual sense of shared traditions. Followers of Islam see heaven as a peaceful garden with divine pleasures for those who submit to Allah by balancing faith and charitable deeds.

Hinduism focuses on the liberation from earthy bonds such as the cycle of birth, death, rebirth. Heaven and hell are temporary states based on karma (actions) within this cycle, not eternal destinations. Buddhists focus on achieving Nirvana, the cessation of suffering and desire. Some modern traditions suggest the afterlife is what one makes it, or that salvation isn’t about sin but personal growth.

Heaven is all those ideas with the emphasis on loving our neighbors and expressing that love through good works. I strive to get my rewards while on earth, and then heaven will be a bonus.

Huge pyrocumulus (fire) clouds were building in the west. Our backpacking group had been separated. We had no communication with each other or the outside world since we were in the middle of the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana.

Three days before, six friends started our annual backpacking trip. Spending time in that Montana area was a dream of my friend, Dan, who had fond memories of hiking decades ago with his family. Another friend, Leo, brought two pack horses so we did not have to carry all our gear in our backpacks. The route was planned without thinking about getting current information about trail conditions in this Forest Service area.

Unfortunately, trails were not in good condition. The second day we encountered down trees that made horse travel prohibitive. Plan B was to split up (never a good idea!) with Leo taking the horses on a different trail than planned. We agreed to meet a day later at a determined place on the map. We hikers, however, found walking to be a challenge due to downed trees and overgrown trails. We didn’t get to the designated rendezvous area and were unable to meet Leo the next day as planned.

By noon the third day, the billowing fire clouds were obvious. We had no idea where Leo was. We could smell the smoke faintly, but the fire was some distance away. We settled down for the night. The next morning a ranger on horseback told us we had to evacuate immediately. He assured us that we would not have problems making the 12-mile hike back to our cars and the horse trailer, if we left straightaway.

The trail parking lot was to be used as a staging site for the firefighters. We had our car keys but realized at the trailhead that we could not find the keys for the truck and horse trailer.

Augusta, MT was the closest town an hour’s drive away. It was flooded with wildland fire fighters gathering to prepare for their onslaught on the fire. The one hotel in town was closed. The local park where we wanted to camp was reserved for firefighters.

We explained at the Forest Service office in Augusta that we had no idea where our friend was and that we needed to get the trailer out. Fortunately, a backcountry ranger had radioed to say he had encountered a man with three horses and advised him to head to an exit in the far north part of the wilderness area. With phone service, we learned from Leo’s brother where the spare truck key was hidden in a secret place in the trailer. We convinced the county sherif to escort Dan back to get the truck and trailer.

He returned at 11 pm. We had been hanging out at a local bar/restaurant/pizza place-the only one in town. We had no idea where to spend the night. Hearing our situation, the young woman who was working and in the process of purchasing the bar offered to let us park our cars and sleep in the driveway where she lived in her double wide trailer. When Deb and I got there, she insisted that the two of us sleep in her spare room. She handed us towels and asserted we would be refreshed after a shower. We did not want to impose but welcomed her generosity after a long frightening day and evening.

The next morning, the young woman left early to cook for the firefighters. We stopped by to thank her again, but a line of firefighters was outside the restaurant door waiting to get fed. We waved goodbye and left to take the 3-hour drive to meet Leo.

I think often about his young woman’s example of humankind(ness).  I appreciate the compassion expressed to me and my friends by this stranger during one chaotic misadventure in Montana. I hope that her life has been blessed. I will not forget the humanity she showed to us.