My sister

I have the most amazing sister. When I first told her of my decision to take this trip - she was excited and supportive. See, my sister helped me get to Italy on that first trip. When I first planned it, I thought I could do it on my own. I had a part-time job, putting myself through school. I had earned a scholarship to help fund me for a conference I attended in Rome and another in Finland. And then disaster struck - well disaster to a 22 year-old college student. Just weeks before I was scheduled to leave, the transmission went out on my car. I was faced with the decision of fixing my car or eating. And my sister came to the rescue. She lent me the money I needed and then gave me a generous birthday gift to make sure that I did not just take my trip, but got to really enjoy my trip.

Fast forward almost 20 years and big sis is still my biggest supporter. Yet again, I thought I could do this on my own. A few months back I started looking into tickets and to my utter shock, they were $1600-1800 - a steep price given my self employed status and the mortgage, and other bills that will still need to be paid when I am gone (gone are those simple days of just having to afford the trip). I began to wonder if I was maybe biting off more than I could chew. Maybe I just needed to settle and take a two week vacation like everyone else. And then my sister showed up for me again - she is giving me her frequent flier points to cover my trip.

So the reality sets in - this trip is really going to happen. I am so fortunate to have the most amazing family and friends and especially my dear sister - there is nothing I wouldn't do for her and I know that the feeling is mutual.