Epilogue: “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened” – Dr. Seuss

I know I wrapped things up pretty well in that last entry but I wanted to dedicate one entry entirely to reflection.

This trip was something I never really believed was going to happen. I planned meticulously for about a year and a half, but still something this big seemed like a fantasy. Even when I left for Pittsburgh on May 13^th, even when I was setting up camp in Yellowstone National Park, even when I was taking a picture of Robin Williams’ star on the Walk of Fame it all still seemed so surreal. I can’t put into words what this trip meant to me. The only thing I can say is that if you have the means to, go do it. I know it’s not that simple, but if it means you have to save up PTO time for a year or create a trip fund that you put money into. Just do what you have to do and go. This is something I’m never going to forget for the rest of my life. The amount that I was able to see, the memories I’ve made, the people I’ve met. All of it is just so inexpressible. How do I describe to you what it’s like to be 630 feet up in the Gateway Arch? How do I put into words the uneasy feeling you get when you step out onto the Skydeck in Chicago that’s 1,353 feet above the street? How can I convey in words the flavor of the most perfectly cooked brisket you’ll ever taste? Or how can I possibly begin to explain to you what it’s like to watch your dad’s face absolutely light up in sheer wonder when he sees the Grand Canyon for the first time? Sure I can try, I have tried. I tried to take you all with me on this trip and let you share these experiences with me. But I can’t do any of these experiences justice. You see these great marvels on TV and you think you know them, but when you walk up and see Mount Rushmore in person for the first time, snow fresh on the ground around it? Nothing matches that type of feeling of wonder.

I would encourage anyone and everyone to take this type of trip. But not only because of the places you’ll go and the things you’ll see, but also because of what you’ll learn about yourself. I had the unique experience of traveling, for the majority of the time, by myself. I won’t lie to you I had some serious reservations leading up to this trip. I didn’t know how I’d be able to handle the driving, I didn’t know how I’d handle being on my own for so long. What I learned was that I didn’t give myself enough credit. I didn’t believe in myself enough. I was able to handle the long hours driving, I was able to get myself around city after city and national park after national park without getting lost or into serious trouble. I was so worried about being on my own that I never stopped to consider the fact that I’m a smart guy and that I’d be able to take care of myself. You learn about some senses you never knew you had too. Walking around cities you don’t know, especially on your own, you become acutely aware of your surroundings. You begin to sense how people look at you as you walk by. I noticed this big time in Cincinnati. I noticed people were actually watching me as I walked by instead of just not paying attention. It’s little things like that that make you stop and rethink just wondering around a certain area. Feelings like that though, you never know you can have that type of sense if you’ve never really traveled anywhere though. If you spend your entire life in a place that you know and that you’re comfortable in, you never have to worry about if you’re in a bad area or not because you know every area. When you’re 3,000 miles away from home on your own though, you better be damn sure you’re aware of your surroundings because if you walk into a bad area without knowing then you better know how to take care of yourself.

Between learning about myself and taking in everything that I experienced, I could not be happier about this trip. Sure I could have taken the money I saved and put it towards the down payment on a house or something, but you know what if I have to live at home for a year or so longer because I went on this trip? I’ll do that every time. It was worth it.

So thank you again. Thank you again to everyone who supported me in planning this. Both my parents, who were ready to back me even when there was a possibility I was going to quit my job to go. Everyone at work who encouraged me to go, even when there was the possibility I was going to quit my job to go. All my friends who had to listen to me go on and on and on about this trip for a year and a half. And everyone who followed along with the blog or Instagram or Snapcaht. Thank you for being interested. I sure had a hell of a lot of fun documenting everything and I really hope it was entertaining for everyone who kept up.

I’m not sad that the end has come. I’m just so very thankful that I had the opportunity to go on this whirlwind of a journey that I will, without a shadow of a doubt, remember for the rest of my life.