June 1st Blues

Nine months ago I met with one of my friends for a last time, Sarah. As part of an amazing care package she included a letter. The envelope was covered with big letters reading, “CONFIDENCE BOOST.” I had strict instructions not to open it until I had really had a moment where I needed just that. Although I’ve been tempted on a couple other occasions, today was finally the day and I have to say thank you Sarah!

Also about a year ago I met with Darcy, one of my great professors and a great friend. After telling her my big plans she had one big concern: having to depend on hundreds of people. More so than funding, word of mouth, press, sponsorship, etc, I would have to depend on complete strangers putting me up in their house with their kids.

For staying with over 80 hosts that I have never met I have done pretty darn well. But, what you don’t hear about are the horror stories! I always tell people that everything is fine and with a smile on the face. But there have been a few times where I’m thinking, “I need to get out of here,” or “Oh my God! They ditched me and I don’t have a place to stay.” Well, it really hit off big the last few days. Three yes’ turned into three nos. That means three hosts who said they would host me changed their mind last minute for one reason or another. And in situations like this I stay as calm as ever, I’m a calm kid. And it’s never anything personally with the hosts. But what’s going on in my head is that not knowing if I’m going to have a place to sleep is as about as stressful as anything I’ve ever known. It’s part of the experience and I signed up for it.

It’s a crazy trip! Sometimes I need something like Sarah’s letter or a poem Evelyn gave me to put in my wallet. But the ultimate is a poem that my old friend Bob wrote for me that I keep in my wallet. He finished it with the popular line, “May the wind always be at your back and the sun upon your face.”