I grew up in a small town in Southwest Virginia, it was an enjoyable slow life and I never really wanted to explore the world because as a kid I imagined the world being a huge unconquerable place. I believed that until I was 12 years old and I took my first plane ride with my Aunt, we flew to California and I was hooked at that moment. The year was 1992 and I remember driving to the airport, getting on the plane, meeting the pilot, getting a pack of playing cards, and peanuts. We spent a week in California and then drove back to Virginia, stopping in Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Arkansas, and Tennessee. It’s been more than 25 years and I remember the pancakes in Texas like it was yesterday. I remember the smell in Arkansas. I remember the enchantment of Mexico.
I don’t think I’ve ever truly thanked my Aunt Carol for the gift she gave me, for the fire she ignited in me, she taught me how to have a thirst for travel and adventure. When I turned 18, I joined the Marine Corps. I was looking for something bigger than myself, a cause, a purpose. I was looking for a way to give back to the Country that I Love. What I got in return was much more than I could ever have hoped for.
I was given the gift of exploration, I was given the opportunity to travel the world. I jumped on every opportunity; Kenya, Kuwait, The Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, Australia, Thailand, Tarawa, Kwajalein Atoll, East Timor, The Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Afghanistan, Iraq, so many more places. One of the greatest gifts though has been the chance to live in Japan. Out of my 20 years in the Marine Corps, I’ve lived in Japan for 11 years; seven years in Okinawa and four years in Iwakuni. I cannot imagine a different life.
In 2004, I welcomed my daughter into the world, she was born in Iwakuni, Japan at a local Japanese hospital. I wanted her life to start as an adventure, and I think it did. As she grown up, I’ve tried to expose her to our wonderful world. I want to show her how small our world really is and how she can be whomever she wants to be and she can go anywhere she wants to go. I’m a single parent, and she and I are conquering life together. She is the best travel partner I could ever ask for, although she does like to have a couple of days off during her holidays to just laze around in the hotel room. There is no holiday for me, I have the thirst for exploration, the need to explore and find new places.
That’s what I Love most about being a Local Guide, finding new places, some place small, that hole-in-the-wall shop. I also Love to take photographs and show the beautiful side of this planet, the human story of our world. Photographs don’t need a language, it’s universal. Anything can be shared through a photograph and I take pride in bringing the world to those who may not be about to get out and explore.
I’m happy to share this life with all of you, to explore with all of you. Let’s make this world a smaller place where our kids can be who they want to be and go where they want to go. #LoveAll
