05/31/2025
Forgive a story here …
Way back in ‘18, before the world changed, I went to Uganda with this amazing crew. Joanne Connerty Denise Rosa Burcksen Kathleen Evans Terri Yurek Bodnar. We were nicknamed the “Gorilla Girls” and we still wear that name proudly and with love. They are the BEST crew to travel with ever!!!!
I fell deeply in love with this beautiful country on that trip and have been an outspoken ambassador ever since.
But maybe the most special moment came when Eric Ndorere , our guide extraordinaire for the trip, asked the five of us to help he and his beautiful wife, Edith, choose a name for their daughter. We all chose a name for a girl that starts with “E” and tossed it into the hat and then Eric and Edith chose their favorite. And then he raced off, after seeing us to off on our plane, to be there when she was born.
I am honored and humbled to be leading an amazing group of travel advisors to Uganda in a couple of weeks on behalf of the embassy and government of Uganda.
But I think my highlight will be meeting the beautiful young girl, Elena. Who we named. A version of my own daughter’s name Lena Pragana.
It is the people that we carry with us. Not the politics.
It is always the people. And I can’t wait to see Eric and his family. And meet the young girl who connects me and my daughter forever to this beautiful country.
🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️