Passport Issued: 2003

My current passport was issued in 2003. Like Ginger Spice, my look and my life have changed a good bit since then. In 2003 I was still drinking amaretto sours almost exclusively if not legally. I was in the midst of my first serious relationship and genuinely expected to be married at the age I've survived to now. I had never colored my hair, let alone traveled outside the United States without my family.

And now I'm off again. Ever since Molly and I had our first great adventure after college graduation, I've been addicted. Genuinely addicted. The exchange rates suck, I'm low on vacation days and I don't have much in the line of US currency anyway and yet I can't stop myself. I get the itch and will make whatever sacrifices necessary to procure the next great adventure, the next undiscovered town and new friends in all places and at all hours.

The world has time and again proven itself to be a beautiful place, begging to be smiled at in small streets and thanked in any/every language. I will not be young and untethered forever. I feel very lucky to be aware of this. This state we're in now is not permanent and that is not for better or worse, it just is. I am almost 25 and four of my best friends are waiting for me literally all over England like a bloody fantastic scavenger hunt. Croydon to Birmingham to Bristol to London proper.

This time tomorrow I will be in my window seat and probably just above Cleveland as I make the trek back to Heathrow. For "family", for friendship and maybe even something more complicated, though I dare not name it now. I'm thinking it though.

That my dears, is an adventure in and of itself.