The end of a journey: Closing Statements

So I am done. I have been done for a good two weeks at this point. I am done with my road trip. I have been so busy with Sarah's wedding and other such shenanigans that I haven't had the time to blog about all that I have seen and loved and finished. So here is goes. 

This summer has gone by so quickly that I hardly remember the time. I swear it's as if I blinked and obtained three months worth of memories and no days, weeks, or months to account for in between, however we know this is not true and I have in fact been gone for three months. 

A few of my firsts this summer: I took a mail boat around Lake Geneva. Saw Amish people till their land in Pennsylvania. I walked the skyline in New York, went to the MET, Attended the street fair in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I meandered my way through Boston while on the Freedom Tour, fished in the ocean in Cape Cod, went qouhogging, descaled a fish. I took the train from Maryland to D.C twice, I went on a boat ride in D.C, saw Jackie O's grave. I stayed in our very first state, Delaware. I went cliff jumping, water skiing, kayaking, and fly fishing with the Venture Crew in Tennessee, all of which I had always wanted to do. I even got tricked into Snipe hunting ;) I stood on the porch of the house Elvis was born in, ate purple hull peas [yum], and painted my very first cabinets. Danced in Nashville.

 Saw the Country Music Hall of Fame. Ate 10 smore's in one day. I walked Bourbon St. I took a swamp tour and held a baby alligator. Saw Louisiana. Porch honky. I went into a batting cage and hit 7 balls! Went swimming in a waterfall in the USA - in Oklahoma. Went horseback riding  to the point of near death.
 Saw the countries largest prairie dog - at a prairie dog museum. I learned that Wyoming, although bigger than Minnesota, has only 200,000 more people than Minneapolis! I saw Mount Rushmore. I drove for over 5,000 miles by myself and stayed in 13 wonderful states. 

I wish I could put into tangible words how much I took from this trip and how much I learned about the people I love.  I don't know if I've gone through any profound personal change but I feel different than the girl I was when I left on this journey. I feel more at ease with myself, more ready for life, and maybe - just maybe - a little less restless, we'll see how long that lasts. Oh yes, and I confirmed that I LOVE Minnesota.

I am so grateful for the people who welcomed me into their homes and hearts. Those people whom I had hours of talks with and learned so much about where they've been and what they've seen. I was treated so nicely by everyone I encountered. People were friendly and welcoming - they wanted to know me and to show me their world. For that I am ever thankful. I did in three months what most people take years to do, if they do it at all - and i'll tell you, it has been an overwhelming fast paced ride. But one I would recommend to anyone. Turns out quitting your jobs isn't such a risk after all, I found a job within two days of coming home! 

So, If you have the opportunity to fly down the free way, freedom style. To let the wind in your sails to nowhere. If you get the chance to take off and learn to love life and this beautiful country we live in - I suggest taking it. Take that chance and run, bike, fly, drive with it. because you only live once.