March 1, 2005
Denver, Colorado – Chicago, IL – Dusseldorf, Germany
When I first moved to British Columbia, I met this amazing fellow wanderlust spirit at the Jericho Beach Youth Hostel. Her name was Vanessa. At first a crush, later a twin flame of wanderings and world explorations, she brought back an innate urge to explore my roots, where my great-grandfather and father’s lineage began, in the country of Germany. The affordability of travel was always an issue, especially when traveling overseas. I had a little bit of reserve from shovel bum archaeology work. My daughter was now grown up and pursuing her own life, currently down in Oregon, living with her boyfriend. It was time for me to start globetrotting and exploring the mysteries that lured my intrigue. I decided to take Vanessa up on her offer of a place to stay if ever visiting Germany. It was time to take the trek. I would begin a Quest to the Rhineland.
A small commute from Point Roberts, Washington, cutting through British Columbia and its two border crossings, I was at Seattle Airport within a few hours. I found semi-affordable airport parking, boarded the plane, and began my journey. I only had one layover at the Chicago International Airport.
Flying solo from Seattle to Düsseldorf with layovers in Chicago stitched together a clear line between fresh starts and the roads already traveled. Every airport: Chicago’s orderly chaos, Seattle’s chilled vibe; the unfamiliar foreign Düsseldorf airport … left its mark, holding moments that shaped not just the way I moved, but how I saw the journey ahead. International flights during winter unlocked the chance to reconnect, explore new routines in Germany, and watch a different world unfold from Düsseldorf’s trams to quiet days at the kitchen table.
Travel deepened my sense of self and flexibility, revealing strengths I hadn’t previously noticed. Those simple details- a laugh in an airport restroom, a perfectly timed fare alert, the warmth of friends abroad- stand out long after the trip is done. If you’ve ever started or ended a journey at any of these airports or traced your own story in places far from home, you know those memories linger.
I guess outside of sleep deprivation and cramped airplane seating, the long, restless journey, the only oddity sticking out to me on this date was a toilet in the public restrooms at Chicago Airport. It was an invention I’ve never seen before … an automatic self-cleaning, self-plastic lining toilet lid. How odd was that?
Your travel story will look different, but its core will stay the same: the courage to leap, the guts to embrace change, and the satisfaction of seeing the world through new eyes. Next time you find yourself booking international flights, walking new airport halls, or stepping out into a city like Düsseldorf, pause and notice what feels unfamiliar. That’s often where real growth begins.
[ Day 2 ]