I was born and raised in the mountains of Virginia. I loved those mountains but they certainly separated us from a lot of the world. Of course, you don't know what you just don't know. And you certainly don't miss what you've never experienced.
I was 20 years old the first time I climbed up in an airplane. Ironically enough, I was traveling alone and heading to a place I had only seen on TV. New York City. Okay not really New York City but we did end up there.
It was the summer between my sophomore and junior year in college. I was as green as the grass in all things travel. My best friend from college invited me to fly up to New Jersey, meet the family, visit New York City and then we would drive back to college together. My instant reaction was YES, I WANT TO SEE NEW YORK CITY! Not once did I think about what it would be like to travel alone or how overwhelming and foreign that big city would be to a small town mountain girl. So I booked my flight, packed my suitcase, and headed to the Roanoke Airport for my very first flight. I remember being excited and terrified at the same time. I didn't understand how the airport worked or what I was supposed to do. Fortunately, there are people who get paid to help you navigate the airport. Who knew?!?
When we started to take off, I remember wondering if I would actually make it to New Jersey. Then almost as quickly as that thought crossed my mind, I became awestruck at the ability of one person to be able to not only get this massive piece of metal up in the sky but to keep it there and to also know how to get it from point A to point B. You see, I had never allowed myself to dream that big and to my earlier point, you don't know what you don't know. From that moment on I was amazed by the act of flying and I am still amazed to this day.
I landed safely in New Jersey with my friend waiting to pick me up from the airport. We traveled through the New Jersey and New York countrysides. I remember thinking, I had no idea there were actually farms and horses in New York. My mind and my knowledge expanded so much on this trip. One day we made our way to New York City and it was every bit of what I saw on TV. In fact, it was much more. I will never forget the speed at which that city moved, especially the taxis! I don't really remember a lot of the details about going into the city but I will never forget the impact that trip had on who I was at that time in my life and who I would later become. I grew as a person that week. I realized there are many different people living in many different places and I'd love to visit them all!
I'm proud of where I came from and I love having those mountain roots but I am forever thankful that I said yes to getting on my very first plane at 20 years old. It opened my eyes to the world and I didn't even realize it in that moment. There is no doubt, this was where my love for travel began!
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