2013 in Review: My Travels

Several Internet websites agree that Saint Augustine once said,

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page".

With just a little time left, I have been reflecting on the past year and the new places I have been. Ever since I was a teenager, I have loved travelling. Seeing a new place is always thought-provoking, inspiring and exciting. Also, I am often provided with an opportunity to make new friends or strengthen existing friendships with my fellow travelers along the way. These are a few of my experiences this year. 

New Orleans

In February I went road-tripping with David Ott and Rueben Hill to New Orleans. David originally planned to run a marathon there in the city, but ended up being unable to participate. Instead, we went sightseeing and exploring for a day or two. We walked down Bourbon Street Saturday night; it was quite a sight to behold, but I wasn't exactly compelled to join in the fun. We had some killer beignets for breakfast and the excitement of marathon day supplemented everything else we went to see.

Ireland

In March I went with a group from my church to Ireland for a week. What a beautiful place. We flew into Northern Ireland and drove into the Republic of Ireland, where we ministered with a church in the city of Galway. We canvassed for services, did construction work at the site of the new church, and played worship songs in the public square on St. Patrick's day. Oh yeah, we were there on St. Patrick's day...that's pretty perfect, right? We got to spend time at the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher, and saw some ancient castles, stone walls, and even some THATCHED ROOF COTTAGES. *Insert Guitar Riff from the Trogdor song*

Norman, OK

So this April was definitely not my first time in Norman, Oklahoma. Nor was it my first time to the University of Oklahoma campus. It was, however, my first time to attend an OU football game. Even if it was a scrimmage. Does that count? I'm sure it's debatable. Either way, I had a good time watching Pablo have a good time, and I know my dad would have been thrilled.

Springfield, MO

During the spring semester I got make a handful of roadtrips to Springfield with Jason Fullerton, as he took his final classes for his master's degree. Cody Plunkett and I were his travel companions, while he was on campus, we religiously stopped at Chick-Fil-A, and we spent some time at Evangel and on the EXCITING AGTS campus (just kidding, I don't imagine many theological seminaries are that exciting). We also got to meet up with my friend and Cody's cousin Sarah, for additional good times and conversations. Our final trip to Springfield was in May, to watch Jason graduate.

Branson, MO

In June, My mother and sisters and I went on a mini-vacation to Branson Missouri. I am not over my family, but I am pretty much over Branson. We went to Silver Dollar City and hung out in the downtown landing area. Good times were had by all, but I don't forsee an older version of Daniel taking his children or grandchildren to Branson.

 Tokyo in Tulsa

You may feel like each item is getting more and more lame as the list continues. That's probably true. Believe it or not, this August was my first time to go to an anime/games convention. Derick Brown and I entered the Smash Bros tournament. Much to our chagrin (and surprise), we were knocked out after the first two matches. However, I feel that if there were a "social etiquette" or "personal hygiene" tournament that same day, we would have been top contenders. Haha, I'm kidding (mostly). But we had a good time running around and meeting up with other friends who share our nerdy interests.



And with that, I figure I should probably bring this post to a close. 2013 was full of many experiences, people and places that have impacted my life, and hopefully you have enjoyed reading about these few. I look forward to next year and seeing where it will take me.

[Basden]