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14 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | MAY 2024 By Annette Hillis, Resident Kathy Caraher was destined to be a world traveler and a lover of all things from nature from a very young age. Raised on Vashon, an island in Puget Sound, Washington, her world was ironically not as limiting as it would seem. She was blessed to have an upbringing that nourished and encouraged learning new skills, being resourceful and creative, and helping others. Her adult years and career were jump-started by a trip to Europe in 1970 – post college. It would be the first of many destinations and exotic locales she would visit. She became a stewardess the following year for Western Airlines, which two decades later, merged with Delta. Her official title morphed into "flight attendant" as males began to enter the industry. Caraher would spend a total of 34 years in her profession and, for the most part, lived an exhilarating life. She recounts, however, the horrifying way her workday unfolded on September 11, 2001. "I was working that morning. My aircra was taxiing to the runway for takeoff to New York City when the skies were shut down. We didn't know why at first. e captain asked us to serve the meal on the ground. We then went back to the terminal. Eventually we were told that an aircra had hit the World Trade Center. I will never forget that day." Caraher is very grateful that her job allowed her to see so much of this beautiful planet. "Traveling opens a person to the world. You see how other people live, their differences and similarities. You realize we are all the same in many ways," she says. Just a few of her countless journeys includes visiting Istanbul, Turkey (her absolute favorite destination and one she remembers as being particularly hospitable), Nice, France, Machu Picchu in Peru, as well as taking cruises to Alaska and Mexico. But she has literally circled the globe, as evidenced by the pins she places on a wall map representing all of her trips. Caraher delights in learning about the history and people of every place she visits. She points out that America is a young country and that Europe, precisely because of its age, its antiquities, and ancient cultures, is a cherished place to venture to. Nowadays, Caraher spends her time in many different ways. She is an avid gardener and has the dream backyard to prove it, filled with many species of flowers, plants, and populated by numerous, colorful hummingbirds. Since moving to Solera Diamond Valley in 2018, she has been involved with the Welcome Committee, the Garden and Quilting Group, and has written many articles during her stint with e View Magazine. Her days, as she puts it, are "overfilled." "I am optimistic. I believe in laughter and smiling at everyone – it's usually just automatic," Caraher notes. "Don't be afraid to reach out to people. You really don't have to be perfect – that's all the media. Give and life will give back." Exploring New Horizons

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