Finding someone who you can spend 24 hours a day with for two weeks and not only NOT want to kill, but actually miss and feel like you can’t wait to see them again and start the next adventure with is just a beautiful thing. It’s something to cherish and something everyone should find, whether it’s in a sibling, a best friend, a spouse, lover or family member. These people are brought into our lives for a purpose and it is truly our duty to live these lives to the fullest & include them in it. 

   I have just completed the most wonderful road trip through Europe with my best friend Kym. Kym and I said goodbye this morning and though we didn’t cry, I felt such strong love and gratitude for her that as she pulled away in the car, I had to really not think about the fact that we were departing each other for the final time on our trip until after I was sure she was long gone. Now as I write this piece sitting on the plane in Vienna, I am reminded of all the times we pushed each other forward on this trip. I encouraged Kym to “just keep swimming” and she encouraged me to “get in the damn water!” (even if said water was hypothermic level cold at times!) 

    We supported each other when one of us was having a momentary freak out (hello lost car keys, GPS Navigation & in my case, crossing love locket bridges), and never with a cross word that didn’t come with just the right amount of sarcasm. “I’m sorry!!” I’d say, “How sorry??” She’d always retort. 

    Or how our “American/Aussie” humor would leech into things and often fall dead flat. On several occasions we would share meals by splitting a portion and then when the waiter would come ask how it was, both of us, with completely clean plates would say, “We hated it. Send it back.” They never did quite catch on to our sarcasm or deadpan humor we thought was so clever and instead we just racked up a few dozen mortified looks. But all the same, it was excellent and I’d just like to say for the record, we didn’t have a bad meal on this trip. Everywhere we ate was EXCEPTIONAL and we’d both be happy to give you the names and recommendations of any places to eat or stay if you’re planning a similar trip. Our accommodations and food were really exquisite & we felt so decadent in the end. 

   Save for the small detour to Italy (Vipiteno seems like a lovely village and I do hope to go back to that beautiful country someday), and the hiccup where we missed the famous Stubai Glacier, nothing on this trip could have been better. We rolled with punches, listened to our bodies, fed our souls & just loved on each other. Because that’s what friends do. And when you find someone who you can go literally anywhere with, you should do it. And never let them go. 

   Love you Kymmie. Thanks for the memories…it was all such GOOD STUFF. #bestfriendtour2017 #brittandrodge2017