the pretty blonde girl.

Two days ago I flew home from college with my sister, Kyrie. I finished my first year. It's surprising to me. 12 months ago I came home from a place I sort of ran away to simply because college scared me. I didn't feel ready to enter that adult world. It looked so full of responsibility and college was a place where really smart people went to. I didn't feel capable.

So I went to Liberia instead and learned a few things.

I met a girl there. I met her the 2nd night. Her name was Signe Hannas Lindland and she was the first one I noticed when I walked on the ship. Her back was facing me as she stood at the front counter talking with a group of people. I remember her laugh was loud and her hair was very blonde. She was extremely pretty and put together. I stared at her, probably glaring, and nudged Sam, "Look. Isn't she pretty? She doesn't look like someone who���d come here." She looked so glamorous and hip. I couldn't think long before we were greeted by overly friendly hostesses ready to explain our job descriptions, where'd we be staying, ship regulations, meal times, and then of course leave a little room for us to talk about ourselves.

The next day Sam and I attended our computer introduction class around 3pm and the pretty blonde girl sat next to me. I was so scared that day. So scared. I knew no one except Sam and Cully and since they were already friends before the ship I constantly played the nagging little sister role, begging to be included. I had to find my own friend. As computer instruction swarmed the room my mind thought only of how I was going to ask her to be my friend. I didn't listen to how to set up my email account or how to upload pictures. I didn���t care about that. The lesson finally ended and I fumbled around with the mouse and hit a couple keys. She wasn't getting up. I remember I could sense a bit of fear in her so I risked it. I asked her.

"Are you new?" My heart beat. I was so scared she'd already had friends and wouldn���t need me. But her answer came so quickly and a smile poured out on my face.

"Yes! Yesterday I got here. Are you new too?!"

"Yeah... you wanna be friends?"

I smile so big as I write now, remembering how pathetically scared I was, how desperately I wanted a friend, and how ready Signe was to be that. I remember clearly Signe's longing as well and how we stuck together for those seven months I was aboard the Anastasias. A couple months later we became shipmates and shared a cabin and the rest... well, it will be continued this summer in her homeland.

I'm leaving for Norway in 4 days. I'm going to live with the pretty blonde girl who became my best friend on that ship and who was one of the most lasting blessings I received when I sailed away from home last year. I'll be away for 2 months.

Please pray for me. I'm about to leave for another daring adventure. I'm running over with possibly dangerous excitement.

As Hellen Keller would say, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."