Every journey has a story, and every story deserves to be told.
For me, the tradition of documenting travel experiences started long before I ever set foot on an airplane or packed my first suitcase. It began with a small, black book, tucked away in the pocket of a U.S. Marine during World War II.
My grandfather was that Marine. He served in the Pacific Theater, including in Japan, where he saw and experienced things that words which we would have a hard time imagining today. Through the nerves of his deployment, he found solace in writing, jotting down notes, thoughts, and observations in that small black book. It was more than just a journal; it was a lifeline to the world beyond the battlefield, a way to hold onto the things that mattered most.
That simple act of documenting his journey ignited a tradition that has been passed down through generations in our family. What started as a war-time diary became a treasured family heirloom. After returning back to the United States and receiving an honorable discharge, my grandfather would become a school teacher. Over the summers, he’d take his family on long car trips throughout the United States. The tradition he began on his deployment to Japan would lead to a series of family trip journals that told the stories of some of the fondest memories of those adventures. Those same journals would include some of my fondest childhood memories with my family.
I’ve always loved the idea of capturing the essence of a trip in a few scribbled sentences or a quick sketch, of being able to look back years later and relive those moments as if they happened yesterday. It’s not about recording every detail; it’s about the snippets—the little moments that make each journey unique.
And now, I’m excited to share that tradition with you.
“Trip Snippets” is a new series on this blog, where I’ll be pulling selected days from my own trip journal and sharing them with you. These posts won’t be your typical travel guides; they’ll be glimpses into the experiences that have shaped my adventures. Some will be lighthearted and fun, others might be reflective or nostalgic, but all of them will be rooted in the idea that travel is more than just seeing new places—it’s about capturing the stories that come with them.
Whether it’s a quirky encounter on a remote island, a serendipitous discovery in a bustling city, or a quiet moment of reflection on a mountain top, “Trip Snippets” will give you a peek into the moments that make travel so special to me.
So, as I embark on this journey of sharing my travel stories, I hope you’ll join me. Together, we’ll explore not just the destinations, but the snippets of life that make each trip unforgettable.
After all, every journey has a story, and every story deserves to be told.
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