Paying it Forward: The joy of the moment
Paying it Forward: The joy of the moment
Practice living in the moment, enjoy what you have been missing. Be patient, it will come to you. No worries
Usually, we worry about what we are NOT doing. Then we don’t fully experience memorable moments enjoyed with others. This week, I practiced enjoying moments with extended family during five days, 1,000 miles in a 32-foot RV with three adults, four children and four dogs.
“No worries,” says my son Brian after 10,000 miles in their first year of RVing.
Unplanned stops are just time for another family memory. You travel in air-conditioned comfort, free to move around. Conveniences include kitchen, fridge, bath, beds and couches. There’s plenty to do no matter what happens.
Two nights RVing in Palo Duro Canyon State Park gave us time to hike and enjoy wildlife and scenery. We relaxed by skipping rocks and then eating s’mores and watermelon. My son and I enjoyed the “Texas” outdoor musical. Enthusiastic actors created engaging reenactments of our state’s progression from frontier to communities as settlers welcomed railroads.
Volunteers make the show happen, and auditions are highly competitive. Some volunteers guide guests each night and then receive a ticket to that night’s performance.
After 58 years, special effects, lines and costumes are well presented. Energetic actors make the story vivid, transporting the audience back to the 1850s. Wranglers have job opportunities to tend the livestock and make sure interactions between animals and riders go well for all.
On Monday, the Wichita Falls Southwest Rotary Club learned about Wichita Falls Area Crime Stoppers and how this independent nonprofit makes our community safer.
Three board members, current chair Darrell Franklin, next year’s chair Samatha Forrester and board member Jeff Taylor, explained how anonymous tips are investigated by law enforcement. Citizens have received over $1 million in cash rewards for tips that led to arrests since the nonprofit’s founding.
Social media, news and highlighting the “Crime of the Week” has resulted in 5,551 arrests since Crime Stoppers came to Wichita Falls in 1981. Crime Stoppers metrics include clearing 8,415 cases, recovery of almost $5 million of stolen property and seizure of $27.5 million of drugs.
Building upon the anonymous tips and reward system, the “Safe School Program” serves schools throughout Archer, Clay and Wichita counties. Students receive rewards for tips than make campuses safe.
Friends of Crimestoppers offers new engagement opportunities like fundraising, speaking, social media, marketing, student education and staffing information booths at events in our communities to make our community better.
Texas is truly a land of dreams. Volunteering makes the future real.
Jack Browne is a community volunteer and former technology sales and marketing executive who worked 40 years at Motorola, MIPS Technologies and other companies. How are the children doing?
Published Wichita Falls Times Record News, Trends Section, Sunday August 4, 2024.