By Claire Zybert
 
Everyday something happens that changes everything for someone.
 
I heard these words in the middle of a play I went to see in Tahoe last month.  This phrase caught my attention with such strength that I can’t remember much of the rest of the play.  I know that my life is defined by the day-to-day work that I do, by the friends I keep, by the choices that I make.  I walk a path and am joined on that path by others – some who help, some who harm, some who learn from the way that I make the journey. 
 
But this reflection is about the crossroads.  These thoughts are of the days when everything changed for me.
 
I joined Rotary on November 18, 2014 – my birthday present to myself that year.  It had been a long year, sending my daughter on exchange to France through the Rotary Youth Exchange Program and entering a new phase of my life as a single woman.  Rotary gave me the fellowship and service opportunities I needed during that time.
 
February 25, 2015, I started a wonderful new job (and career) with the help of Chip Lindloff.  Later on April 22, I moved into town and rented a house from Ralph Koss.
 
On August 13, 2016, I joined the District 5190 RYE Committee as the country contact for Argentina because of the encouragement from Chesa Keane, Lynn Johnson, and David Zybert. RYE is my passion project.
 
April 29, 2017 After dating David Zybert for a year and a half at the STRONG encouragement of Mark and Hillary Schauss, David and I got married. 
 
I lost my mom when she passed away on September 25, 2017.  David was my rock.
 
A lot of changes happened at my work and with turmoil, December 18, 2018 was my last day.  I had to start looking for a job again which proved to be challenging. With the encouragement, good connections and referrals from Kelli Tampio, Susie Meyer-Robertson, Courtney Pino, Tom Keller, and Cindy Welch, I started a new job on September 9, 2019 with Shivani Peterson at All Western Mortgage.
 
Why do I recount those days? Why do I even remember them?  Each one of those days, for better or for worse, were days when everything changed for me.  This is my thank you note to the Rotary Club of Reno Centennial Sunset for your support through the years.