Constant Reminder

As discussed in a prior entry, Interstate-15 began my love affair with transportation safety. Since that hot day out in the Mojave, my mission in life has been to reduce mortality and improve how we use transportation. To celebrate that day, that moment when I realized what I wanted to spend my life doing, my husband acquired something very special.

I’m lucky to have a husband who realizes that an I-15 shield would mean more to me than a flashy piece of jewelry. The shield routinely reminds me of when I realized how important transportation is in our lives and the toll of serious crashes takes on individuals, transportation networks, and even the economy. It embodies the reminder one sometimes needs while working on a PhD or even just tackling challenges at work.

If you forget why you’re doing what you’re doing or think you’ve lost your way, find something that never fails to bring you back—whether it’s a picture of your kids (cats? spouse?) or if it is a borderline ridiculous trinket that may require some explanation to those who don’t know you well, like an Interstate Highway shield.