Life is rarely a straight line between two points. I've found mine to resemble wavy lines that may be dizzy or disoriented! In my lifetime - amid the squiggles of professional moves, the curves that children bring, and waves created by the unexpected - there has been a distinct linear overlay. Concrete steps from wildly different aspects of my life led toward the point where the tones of science, math, and spirituality converged. College felt like a five star restaurant, and I could order whatever I wanted from the menu. There were so many choices; I wanted to explore them all. Literature and Science were my favorites, but who could ignore a deep dive into metallurgy? Digging into the complex sociological construct where the civil rights movement and the prison system overlap in the state of Alabama? Learning and performing Carmina Burana with a symphony? Contributing to the human genome project? These things seem unrelated, but I see a vibrant undercurrent of all my interests. I want to live: to truly, unabashedly, unreservedly explore the world and all it has to offer. It turns out that even on a budget, even when born to a working class family, even when being the first in the family to graduate college, even with four small children in tow, I could explore the world. Through reading, volunteering, fostering relationships, and being willing to travel, I found the rich texture for which I was searching. I'm still adding threads to that tapestry today. Now, however, the wiggly lines have woven a beautiful pattern around something truly unique -- me.