"I'm gonna throw it all away and make my stand"

Bellingham. My little oasis of green nestled against the ocean and held in place by Canada. I’ve missed this town since the day I left back in 2010; that was a lifetime ago and I was a different person then. Being home now is nothing short of pure bliss and I’ve been walking around with a smile on my face that won’t go away. The world around me smells of the forest and fresh cut grass and the sunlight sparkles on Bellingham Bay like a million diamonds. This earth is a truly amazing place and I will be forever grateful that I was strong enough to make that difficult decision to change and leave behind the life I knew in order to see the world. I can’t describe how the experiences I’ve had, the people I’ve met and the places I’ve seen have changed me; I have a new-found respect and understanding of nearly everything. Travel truly is the greatest form of education. The people I’ve encountered have each had a profound effect on me and I will cherish the memory of their faces until the day I die. I’ve traveled the world alone. I’ve slept on the couches and floors of strangers. I’ve walked foreign cities at night in the rain. I’ve seen death at its worst and I’ve seen humans at their most evil. I’ve loved deeply and I’ve been deeply hurt. My tears have been brought on by both sadness and unbelievable joy. And I will always, ALWAYS, be grateful for every single second of these past two years. But now is the time for me to be home and I’m so happy to be where I am: physically, mentally and emotionally. I’m a changed person but I will always be that girl that gives everything to whatever it is I’m passionate about. Sometimes that’s a good thing and sometimes that’s a bad thing...but it’s who I am.  

Syracusa, Italy 2011