Day 234

Got to see one of my best friends in the whole world today before he moves to Abu Dhabi in a couple weeks to pursue a career in yacht design. For the record it took me about seven times to spell the word yacht correctly just now. He is my hero and if I'm a little bit fearless today, it's because of him. 

Five years ago, he was just a friend of a friend. After only knowing each other for a couple months, he called me on New Year's Eve and somehow convinced me drive to New York City. That day. From Michigan. Without a hotel. Without a plan. I don't even think we had a map. I said no of course, several times, but he wouldn't take no for an answer. Thank God. I threw some clothes in a bag and an hour later he picked me up. Eleven hours later we were parallel parking on some street in Manhattan and running towards Times Square. Ten minutes after the ball dropped we were ankle deep in confetti and on top of the world. We found a hotel in New Jersey just outside the city. We drove around a deserted hungover Manhattan early the next morning. Walked until we couldn't walk anymore. Drove home the next day. And life hasn't been the same since.

I used to plan e v e r y t h i n g. I thought you had to! I would concentrate on the reasons why I shouldn't do something instead of why I should. Not after that trip. That trip made me realized you gotta just go. Like all the time. Like whenever an opportunity comes. And you can't worry about what will go wrong. Because if it does go wrong, more than likely it can be made right. And I'm not just talking about trips, yo. 

Fadi changed my life. Today I got to tell him that. He just giggled, like he always does. 

He is one of those people that never ceases to amaze me and inspire me with his generosity and his electric spirit. After each visit, I always feel a burst of energy and optimism. We've gone on tons more trips together since that one. Had a thousand adventures, sometimes just over dinner, and have tons more in our arsenal. Tons.