A good friend asked me tonight, “If you could meet one person on your trip out of anyone in the United States, who would you choose?” I still don’t have an answer. Not sure if I ever will! How could I choose just one? But I think I can start making a list of all the people I’d really like to meet. I’m hoping that I can use this trip as an opportunity to meet some of my childhood heroes or people who’ve inspired me. …

It’s late, really late, and I can’t sleep! I’m thinking about Texas, Florida, and Maine. I’m thinking about my return to Michigan one year later, coming across the border and seeing that big blue sign with the lighthouse on it that says, “Welcome to Michigan.” That’s a long ways from now and I’m going to see 49 other signs like that across the country. However, does Hawaii have signs like that? …

The thoughts continue more and more as I anticipate this trip. As for the latest thought I keep asking myself, “How will this trip establish me?” Which parts of the trip will I really excel? Will it establish me as a photographer? As a writer? As an innovator? Or maybe establish me as a documentary expert. A year from now I’ll still be just a young kid with a bright future in front of me. …

As the fundraising continues during business hours, I find myself pondering during the nights about the actual trip. I’m thinking about the people I’ll be staying with. What kind of photo stories or news I might come across just by being in the right place at the right time. Summer is moving fast! From here I’ll only be getting more antsy, more excited, more nervous, and the list goes on. …

During the last few days I’ve spent time calling different people around the country trying to find hosts. Some of them were expecting a call and some weren’t. Regardless… how fantastic! I encourage everyone to call a random person and ask if you can stay with them. But, more than that start a conversation. The trip has yet to begin and I’m already blown away by getting to know new people across the country. …

I’m flattered by how much people have embraced this project. One of the neatest things I’ve heard so far (which is greater than any donation) is that some teachers at my old high school and elementary school want to do a weekl lesson of “Where in the Country is Bugsy?” Fantastic! I could see it as something many classes would be willing to do to learn about geography in a more exciting way, one state at a time. …

The Hometown Invasion Tour was once a dream, long before it had a title or website. However, the vision has been there from day one. It’s been about 10 months since I first started dreaming about this big idea to travel to all 50 states and stay with a different family in each. The more I thought about it and the more I worked on it the more necessary it became. …