July 2011 Reflections

• 
  
  You have heard of “starting with a bang?” I felt like a cannonball being fired from a cannon the day I began this journey. After a week-long Imperial Session in Denver representing the Daughters of the Nile, the morning of my first visit was to have begun with the ring of a hotel wake-up call at 4:00 a.m. to catch the airport shuttle for a plane to Rapid City, South Dakota. At 6:30 a.m., the departure time of the airport shuttle, I woke up, frantically threw on my clothes, and called the hotel desk to report their error. I was given a taxi to the airport and arrived in time for the flight. It was not the calm, prepared beginning to my trips that I had anticipated. I felt like a rocket thrust into space. Today I am on my way to visit number ten and all travel connections since that first day are running smoothly.
• 
  
  Living out of a suitcase takes a special talent, which I have not as yet developed. Traveling with two large identical suitcases presents its own challenges. After a few days of opening up the wrong suitcase to find the underwear, I put a teal ribbon on the handle of the one bag to identify the contents. I have also been advised by numerous PSQ’s to always put away items in the same place. I thought the tip was to prevent nothing from being left behind. Now I know it was for the simple reason of finding the item the next day in the correct suitcase.
  
  The hotel stays have been uneventful. Most hotels these days have a complimentary breakfast and Internet access…at least so far. The only difficulty has been handling the luggage when there is no bellman within miles of the hotel.
• 
  
  Communication via Internet, e-mail, and cell phones is invaluable to a Supreme Queen. I appreciate the tenacity that my predecessors had when traveling for years without the convenience and accessibility of technology.
• 
  
  One of the joys of being Supreme Queen and traveling to every city where there is a Daughters of the Nile Temple is seeing old friends and meeting new ones. Just the other day, I was in a Temple and the door opened, and I was surprised by Past Queen Jina from my own Temple. I was reminded by her unexpected visit that each day brings new smiling faces.
• 
  
  As I wake up each day in a new city, the anticipation of visiting the ladies in another Temple is revitalizing. As this routine allows, I hope to continue to send periodic messages to you in your e-mail box. Please tell all of the Princesses that you know about this new opportunity to receive communications directly from the Supreme Temple and how to submit their e-mail addresses.
• 
  
  Now I must log off and pack up the printer and crown. The sun is shining, and I am off for another treasured day with more Ladies of the Household!
• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Photos of the Travels of Supreme Queen Laura Richardson:
  July 2011
• 
  August 2011
  
• September 2011

October 2011
• 
  November 2011
  December 2011
  January 2012
  February 2012
  March 2012
  
  
  
• Supreme Queen Laura Richardson reflects on her journey
• 
  July 2011
  August 2011
  September 2011

   

• 
  
• 
  For a list of visits, click here.
•