It was May 5th, 2005 and I was reluctantly boarding a plane bound for Hong Kong. A whole new life was waiting for me, one I had absolutely no interest in living. As I took a cramped seat next to the window, I asked myself, what the heck happened to get me to this point?
My title was always the same – The New Kid. As soon as I’d start to fit in, we’d move again.
Going out for a nail date and not getting your nails done would basically be a social disaster.
“Who, me? Hah! Oh, no. No, no, no. I’m not interested,” Terri assured us, and I knew it was true. Her heart lay in a career. Her adoration for her father, a well-respected medical doctor, had years ago inspired her dream of working right there next to him, saving lives.
Seconds later, Mom hung up the phone and presented her “great news.” We were going to pack up everything, we were going to travel around the world, and we were going to live out of backpacks – for a whole year!
Chapter #2 “Aftershock”
My seventeen-year-old sister, Breanna, has always been my best friend and my worst enemy. As sisters tend to be, she is both a curse and a blessing.
Ammon is already busy planning a route for us. My eldest brother, Ammon, is a twenty-five year old “genius”.
Dear Skylar had gone off and joined the military three years ago,…..
….and Dad had moved out.
Chapter #3 “Itinerary”
What started out as a favour, driving our hosted Japanese students to Seattle, turned into a multi-bus company offering adventure tours on weekends for Vancouver’s ESL (English as a Second Language) students.
“That’s when it hit me very strongly that I need to take you guys and go see the world.” mom said
Chapter #4 “My Brother’s Battles”
Ammon, the last days in the city. Half an ear gone but happy and relieved to be cancer-free!
Skylar in the US Marine Corps, unfortunately missing the family trip, and facing major obstacles of his own.
Chapter #5 “The Shells of Life”
Unable to keep most of our stuff now that we were leaving, we first had to find homes for all of our pets. – Verbal our African Grey Parrot.
“Harrison,” I whispered as I bit down on my lower lip. That was the only news that could possibly have brought me happiness. My dog, the love of my life, was safe!”