Leaving

In the twenty or so moves I've made over the past five years, I've learned two things: 1)The more you open yourself up to people and places, the harder it is to leave them. 2) Leaving is never easy. I had hoped to take you guys from skinny-dipping in Vermont to riding on the back of a stranger's bicycle in Berlin, from Shankill Road in Belfast to the Christmas Market in Edinburgh. I wanted to show you Vermont in January and my cross-country road trip to L.A. with my mom. I have photos for you of my first garden, my family's trip out on Lake Mead, my Peace Corps invitation, and my adorable dog. In this last few hours I have here, though, I won't attempt such feats. I find myself, instead, wanting only to say 'thank you' to all of you--a gratitude which I am ill-equipped to express.
From gifts to dinners to parties to knot-tying lessons to help with shopping and packing to encouragement, letters, and phone calls...you all have made this somewhat impossible dream possible. This move was one in which I had time to truly open myself up to the people and places around me, and although it has made the goodbyes harder, I have learned that in doing so, I have found in all of you great strength and support as I step out into the unknown. My gratitude and love run more deeply than I can tell you. I look forward to the conversations I will have with each of you over the next two years. Much love, and, well, peace.

P.S. Come visit!