That trip was truly an epic adventure.
I was honored to be present in so many moments that made such a difference in Steph's journey of womanhood. I got to meet many of the folks from her memories she had shared with me - people whom had before only been faces in pictures or stories shared in many of our conversations. I saw old friendships rekindled and some new ones blossom, since the removal of the cause for so much pain over the years.
All of the uncertainties about the folks we were going to see turned into happy reunions with her just being...herself.
Stephanie and I learned so much about ourselves and each other as the miles ticked slowly by. From rest stop to truck stop, through rain, sleet and snow, we drove on down those lonely highways. We battled fatigue, faced the past, slew ancient demons, met old friends, and made some new ones. We laughed, we cried, we held each other close when times seemed at their darkest. We stood together in the face of adversity, spat right in its eye, and not for one second did we let any hardship get the better of us.
My words cannot even begin to do justice to the level of growth we experienced on this journey, however. A lot of it, I know we are both trying to still process but the overall result had each of us reaching deep within ourselves to bring out the best parts of our souls to finally share with the world. Today, we resume our lives as before but with a new-found serenity that may, in some small part, make our world a better place to live in.
