Coming Full Circle

I haven’t quite been to all 50 states yet and I’m saving Michigan for the last. So I have a few weeks left to really complete the circle. However, in a great way this stop in Lake Villa, IL is all about coming full circle. Many of you who read the site regularly may not have known about it a year ago. It was back on the 7th day of the trip after leaving home, September 14th, 2006. A long time ago I wrote this blog entry (necessary to read to get the full understanding of the importance of this stop).

Back then, 7th day of my trip, I had no idea what I was doing. I had little experience under my belt and only a couple of stories. Now, it’s been well over 300 days. Early on I had to learn to adapt to a situation. Along the way there have been several last moment changes on the trip. But nothing as drastic as that, nothing! Murder of a host’s family member, just 10-20 minutes after arriving to their house. There is no doubt that I have matured and have seen several life experiences.

I told LuAnn and John that I would try to make it back before the end of the trip. It has worked out perfectly as I head to Madison for my brother’s wedding. I’m in a strangely familiar place. I’m ecstatic to make it back here again and honored that LuAnn and John were willing to have me again. As I got here the memories of the last time became much more clear. This was a large step!

To write this book… I may have to visit all the same places again with my fingers energetically waiting at the keyboard.

P.S. It was also quite perfect. Just one of those tiny coincidences. It’s not often you see a ventriloquist on national TV, but Mr. Terry Fator happened to win when I finally stayed with a ventriloquist, a year later than planned.