"Moving on is simple, it’s what you leave behind that makes it so difficult" -unknown
As I stand peering into the unknown darkness of my future, I look back to capture any wisdom that might remain on the path that brought me here. Throughout the past four years I have discovered my love of travel through the hands of my best friend, first love, and girlfriend Anna. We have traveled across the country and around the world together; we haven't been without each other for more than a week or two in the past four years. We have been serenaded in gondolas in Venice, laid on the beaches of Turkey, partied during Mardi Gras in New Orleans, seen the showgirls in Vegas, jumped out of planes in San Francisco, and been to Disney in LA. Each new travel with Anna added to my wanderlust. Like a snowball rolling down a hill, with every moment my desire to experience new places grew.
And Anna was there to foster the growth of my love for travel. The thought of seeing her smile and blink her Bambi like eyes back at me was enough to keep me in high spirits during trips when sleep was scarce and stress was high. The thought of enjoying the best, freshest. weirdest food with her on each trip was enough to keep me planning our trips late at night as I lay awake in my bed with my eyes straining to see the computer screen.
And even beyond our own trips, she encouraged me to travel with friends, and she pushed me to plan those trips as meticulously as I had the trips with her. She thought of dangers I might never have thought of; she shaped me into the traveler that I am.
I am who I am because of Anna. I spend every dollar I have on plane tickets because of her. I dream of new worlds to explore because of her. I am a professional traveler because of her.
Thank you for four great years, I hope your next four are even better.
Goodbye for now, Anna.
