As I hugged my pregnant sister Dawn and my nephew Henry at the airport, I began to cry. The doubts and fears others had told me about that they had started to grow in my consciousness. One friend asked me, "How can you go on a three month vacation and only plan the first five days? Aren't you scared or worried?" I replied,"No, of course not. Things will fall into place and God will always be by my side. I'll plan as I go. Its more spontaneous that way. There will be more adventures that way. If I plan out everything, what kind of adventures would I really have?" It was such a strong and bold answer but I knew everything would be ok. Another friend would tell me please put up lots of pics on facebook so I can vicariously live through you.I replied to her, "You could meet me somewhere or do it yourself, you know."  I kept getting those responses from one friend after another. It didn't bother me. I thought they were either jealous or fearful of going on their own adventure. If this is the way to encourage others to travel then I would put up photos and write blogs about it, maybe one day a book. I didn't have much self esteem before this trip but I did believe I was going to do this. I had talked about it, dreamed about it, wrote about it for two years now. There was no way I would back out now.
           It was at the airport when all the fears everyone had told me about rushed into my head and became my own. Dawn, who would have a baby soon was there to send me off. I hugged her and began to cry. "I will miss out on the birth and miss out on seeing this little baby grow up for the first three months. Who am I to go on this trip with a backpack? How will I survive? Why didn't I make plans for more than just the first five days? What if something bad happens? " Everything I was fearful of came out right then and there with lots of tears. She smiled and said, "Tracy, you are one of the most boldest people I know. You have already done this. You went off with Milda some years ago and lived in Spain teaching English. You survived. Now its your adventure. Only you can write it. You have nothing to worry about. Yes, I'll have a baby but I'll write you and you can see him or her when you get back. You are a strong and courageous woman who doesn't let anyone or anything stop you. Why are letting these friends of yours place fears in your head that were never there in the first place. You are ready and you will have the time of your life."
           It was true and those words of wisdom helped me so much. I left that fear with the hug I gave her and headed into the airport for the time of my life. A little anxiety lingered so after checking in, I went and had a beer. I didn't have any idea what I wanted to do for the next three months but I knew it would amazing. This was going to be the adventure of a lifetime and I was doing it alone. I knew I wouldn't really be alone though. Most of my stops were going to meet friends from my past when I lived in Spain. Others would be new friends that I would meet in the future. I am happy and I am chasing my dreams. I had written them down on a goal list and soon I would be crossing them off to replace them with new dreams. I started to think of the positive things instead of fears. I would be seeing a family that kind of adopted me in Spain and I would be going to visit my old teachers I used to work with and also see my students that were now in high school. This dream was becoming a reality and I would never forget it.