The Company I Keep

“american girls are weather and noise, playing the changes for all of the boys, holding a candle right up to my hands, making me feel so incredible.” – counting crows

I was in discussion recently with one of my travel companions about what we are looking forward to the most about our upcoming trip. The answers varied from the silly to the serious but in the end we both came to the conclusion that this trip will bring about more changes in us than we can even begin to comprehend. With the date of graduation looming in the not so distant future and the uncertainty of the ‘real world’ waiting on the other side of our impending trip, we both decided that it will be truly glorious to disappear for a little while. We will for all intents and purposes, just be four girls, wandering Europe, with no preconceived notions and agendas, no responsibilities to be tethered to, no voice of reason to answer to. We made this plan on our own terms. We know this moment of being on the cusp of adulthood will pass us by quicker than we can imagine and so for a truly special 29 days we choose to stick a pin in growing up and take to the cobblestone streets and sidewalk cafes, the intriguing dialects and historical provinces that make up Western Europe. It is a rare occurrence in this constantly changing world, to be able to take a step back and move away from the hustle and bustle of one’s everyday routine to truly enjoy just existing in the moment. In a world where nothing can come fast enough or be good enough, it can take a little reminder every now and then, that there are bigger things to see and sometimes a better person to be. So I, being a self proclaimed planner and lover of organization and lists galore, am promising myself to make a conscious effort to enjoy every minute of these 29 days, planned and unplanned. Every miscommunication over the language barrier, every wrong turn down a cobblestone street, every local friend we find, every lesson we learn, will be the little pieces that come together to make this a true turning point in the landscape of our lives. Excited does not even begin to describe this feeling.

My Travel Companions….

Ellen and Amanda

Marilee and Me