Travel Bug

(not my image)

Beautiful Strength. What does that mean? I think this concept came to me even as a little kid.

I was born and raised in small town Iowa. Like super small town. I graduated with a class of 36. Most of the kids in my school looked fairly the same. We had two adopted Korean kids and a half black boy in elementary school and some visiting Mexican families here and there who worked in the fields, but overall, my exposure to other cultures was mostly lived through my Grandma Debner’s love for National Geographic and the National Enquirer. I remember the first time I picked up one of her magazines and looked at in in awe. There were people in there that looked nothing like me (I mean half the people in the National Enquirer were bat babies and half vampires, but the REAL people even looked different). I vividly remember one article in NG on women somewhere in Africa that had these gigantic plates in their bottom lip. What was that!!! I was mesmerized! Every time I went to their house I would sit and look at the photographs and transport into far away places that someday I hoped to visit. I had the bug. I wanted to travel, I wanted to meet people that were different than me, I wanted to know everyone and go everywhere!

I was very fortunate to have two parents that took us places outside of my small town and state. My first trip on an airplane was in 5th grade. My dad took us to DisneyWorld in Florida. It amazed me that so many people were traveling all at the same time! There were people everywhere. And people I didn’t know. Flying was exciting! My mom also took us on trips, mostly to states where we could easily drive to. I remember my first trip to the Barnum and Bailey circus. There were women flying through the air, crazy outfits and fashions I had never seen before, and “weird” people everywhere. And TATTOOS… oh were there tattoos! I had found my people! I wanted to run off with the circus immediately! My mom, though adventurous, did not think that would be a good choice as a 10 year old. !! Even to this day, when circus movies come out (The Greatest Showman… if you haven’t seen it GO!) or a circus comes to town or sideshows… Oh man, I still want to run away and join!

When I first went to college at University of Northern Iowa I was a theater student. If you ever want to experience people outside the “norm” join a theater group. So. Much. Fun. And such weird, wonderful people! I’ve always thought I’m not quite weird enough to be in the arts… but I’m also not “normal” enough for a regular life! LOL But anyhow. After one semester, I hopped on a Greyhound bus and moved to Southern California. A small town Iowa girl with two Polaris bags packed full of clothes and a dream… to see the world! And this adventure hasn’t stopped. Honestly, I feel like my life has been one crazy fun filled vacation since the age of 19. One that has definitely had ups and downs and the hardest part is funding my adventures - oh to have been a trust fund baby!! kidding (kinda) ;)

I’ve lived in Southern California, Mid Missouri, and now Nashville. I’ve traveled to Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, England, Belgium, France, and next up, the Bahamas. But there are still SO many places to go and so many different people to meet. I have yet to get to that tribe in Africa… but by golly I’m going to make that happen someday!

I have been very fortunate to be blessed with an open heart, a listening ear, and a love of photography. This Beautiful Strength project has allowed me stay in once place, but feel the vastness and variety of the world. I can’t wait to continue it in 2019!!!

“Oh the Places You’ll Go!” - Dr. Suess