You never really know how you've effected someone until the day they introduce you to their new spouse and say, "She's the one who inspired me to travel."
John Sheetz go married this weekend to a wonderful woman named Bekkah. They were married in a Lodge in Wakulla Springs, FL. It was perfect for them. The ceremony was beautiful. They offered communion. I took it. I interpreted it as a show of support for the new couple in their life together. The bread was tasty.
I've known John since we were 12 years old. We were on newspaper staff together. We were really great friends in high school. He was my adventure friend, and we'd end up going for long bike rides or to art galleries together. One of my fondest memories was the two of us, riding our bikes from my house to a park on Haverhill and up Military Trail back to my house. Senior year, we wandered around Palm Beach Island with our friends who had all been nominated for Pathfinder Awards. I was off to tour the world with Up With People. They were all making plans for college.
During my tour, I got emails from John. He was in Europe. He had decided to travel, too. We emailed back and forth over the year. Me from Prague. Him while working on a boat in the Mediterranean. Me from Finland. Him from Stratford Upon Avon. I got postcards from him at home, telling me that I should go here or there. I was always jealous of his adventures even while I was having my own.
I had never met Bekkah, but thought I knew her pretty well through facebook posts. Halfway through the reception, I cornered John and pointedly told him that neither I not our friend Katie who was there had ever even met Bekkah. He introduced Katie and her husband. Then me. She said, "I've heard so much about you." He said, "She's the one who inspired me to travel."
Who knew? Certainly not me. It's rare to get an opportunity to hear how you've effected your friends. It was nice to hear. I think it's something I need to say more.
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