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Years ago, I joined the local college’s debate team. Since I’ve long enjoyed quality discussions about the important issues of our day (as some of you may have noticed with many of my Facebook posts), the debate team was a natural fit–I loved it.
A fresh new speaker on the college circuit of parliamentary debate, within a handful of tournaments I found myself very confident when matched with any and every other debater in my division–from all of the other schools throughout local states. I was very confident in debate rounds with all but one other debater, that is: Dani Stevens. Hailing from the powerful debate program at Willamette University, Dani was a parli ace, a “master debater,” and she kicked my butt every time we faced off.
Dani’s parliamentary prowess of course quickly led me to find out who she was and to get to know her better. A fabulous new friendship emerged, and I even found myself with a quick crush on her at the time, LOL.
Dani is, was and always has been an AWESOME asset to humanity–a brightly shining star illuminating the lives of many around her.
Though we haven’t seen each other in several years, we’ve stayed in touch through time and many miles, and given that she’s now working at Manhattan’s Landmark High School, not only have we thoroughly enjoyed catching up in person after many years, Dani also has steered me into several days worth of super-fun speaking appearances to multiple classes at Landmark.
I may even be speaking soon at other local schools with the quality connections made from Landmark .
All of us adults can think of friends and relatives we know from whom years and miles have created a distance. Though the Walk of Inspiration Across America – EnjoyTheWalk has been thoroughly worth it on many fronts, one of the greatest of all sweet benefits is catching up with dear relatives and friends across the miles, arriving on foot to their new homes, and enjoying the magical rekindling of rapport across the earth’s revolutions.
(Pictured here: Dani introduces me to science teachers Dennis & Mohammed, whose students I spoke to this week.)

The streets of Manhattan this week…