Tag go ot of your comfort zone

A visit–or two over the years between friends

Anna--The Adventurer

2001 Thomas came to Colorado for my Highschool Graduation

2001 Thomas came to Colorado for my Highschool Graduation

May of 2001, Thomas,  the man

Graduation Day with Acacia Clough

Graduation Day with Acacia Clough

I met on the train,  travel

ed from Germany to Colorado, USA, for my Highschool graduation and stayed with my family for 2 weeks. We went to Estes Park, Colorado for a visit one day. Thomas met all of my giant family, and that is no small feat…and

14114689_10157554660670725_460239772_o

Thomas and I on the Outerbanks, N.C.

We continued to write letters.

Anna and Thomas @ Carolina's Diner, Archdale, N.C. 2005

Anna and Thomas @ Carolina’s Diner, Archdale, N.C. 2005

April 2005 I was living in North Carolina, going to college, studying Fine Art at first and later on Graphic Design and Advertising. Thomas came for  10 visit, where we spent 6 days on the Outer Banks.  Our friendship continued to deepen and strengthen and…

We continued to write letters.

December 2013-January 2014–I had moved back to Colorado in May of 2012–and once again, my family (sister, brothers, parents, etc) decided to take a family vacation in the dead of Winter to Europe for Christmas.

Anna And Chub

My brother and I in Germany.

My youngest brother, at the time was living in Regensburg,

Thomas and I out for coffee, January 2014, Germany

Thomas and I out for coffee, January 2014, Germany

Germany, having moved from Heidelburg in previous weeks.  So, after spending time in his city, I split ways for a few days to visit Thomas in Ettlingen, Germany. I surely couldn’t go to Germany without seeing Thomas, my friend

and penpal.

Something changed between Thomas and I but…

We continued to write letters.

The Beginnings of….an adventure

Anna--The Adventurer

The start of my adventure

The Beginnings of Something wonderful

Decemeber,1997—My family and I were on vacation in Holland, riding the ICE train to Germany. My family, being 6 of us, 7 with my Uncle, were a large group, especially with our luggage.  My family filled the compartment and thus, I sat across the aisle at a small table, next to the window, where the chairs were bolted to the floorboards of the train.

A German man sat across from me, in the empty available seat, witha  rucksack in-tow and nothing more than that and a newspaper.  He struck up a conversation, after a bit, and within 3 hours, we exchanged mailing addresses and he disembarked from the train at his stop.

Letters were written, postcards exchanged and an old–fashioned pen-pal friendship blossomed.
We continued to write letters over time–sharing the simple things of life and…thus began something exquisite