Thursday, 05 August 2004 Emphrael watching Tag
va·ca·tion (n.)
A period of time devoted to pleasure, rest, or relaxation, especially one with pay granted to an employee.

Mark gave the official thumbs-up, our vacation has begun!

If everything goes as planned, I should return on the 23rd well-rested and back to my normal self.

Until then...

I was planning to go through today as if it were just a normal day. I can't. August 5, 1998 changed everything about who I am. On this day, 6-years ago, after only 8-months of e-mail and ICQ messages, I hopped in a taxi headed towards BWI. I flew first class with British Airways to Amsterdam with the intention of never returning to the U.S.
I was 21-years old.

I didn't tell a soul back home (oh, the shitstorm that followed...), and I recall that a number of my online acquaintances were quite concerned. The moment that I walked out of the arrival terminal and saw Marcel standing there (paralyzed), I knew he was the one. We embraced, and I couldn't imagine a life without him.

The only restriction to my resident in the Netherlands is that I "stay with MG Klomp". I can't imagine anywhere else I'd want to be.

Baby, thank you for everything. I love you silly.