One more month 

Or a little less

I’ll be done

I gave my best

In 6 long years 

I’ve traveled I’ve swept

Across the carolinas with tears and sweat

From campus to campus

in search of a degree

Yet now I’ve found more 

More inside of me. 

I’ll graduate this year in May 

and as I walk across that stage 

Your smiling faces will bring me joy

Because it’s you that have encouraged me so

I’m almost done 

Just wait and see 

This final month 

will not be the end of me. 

In 6 long years I’ve fought, I’ve won!

This mountain is being climbed. 

I’m almost done!!! 

:: Senior year has been full of heartache, pain, long nights, days of missing Wyatt! Times I thought I would never finish, tears, sweat and so much more. I have found a strength inside that can’t be broken, a passion for the lost, and irreplaceable friends! I have learned so much and enjoyed countless adventures with crazy friends. Rock climbing and jumping off cliffs into not very deep rivers (could have been bad) ha! Having fun dinner parties before church on Wednesday night, and sleep overs with silly friends during the summer before we lived together. Building a business that never really got off the ground but taught me so much about myself, my strengths and weaknesses and about my cool roomies and their passions and hearts desires. Best of all!… in my freshman year (even though it was tough and crazy) I had Wyatt and he certainly is the BEST thing that has ever happened to me. 

Finally, I dedicate this poem to my mom! She has been there to encourage me every step of the way. Making me sign back up for class the spring after I had Wyatt and helping me move numerous times, and being supportive while I changed my major and made some crazy decisions. Although I seriously wrote this in 10 seconds and it may not sound that great I can’t tell you how happy I am to be graduating and how much I know I could not have gotten this far with out your amazing grace, love, and support Mom! Thanks. 

To Anna and Maria: I seriously don’t know if I could have gotten out of bed on certain occasions to make it to that test, or class, or study session, if you two weren’t there with smiling faces, cups  of coffee, and encouraging words! Thanks! 

To Wyatt: I hope you know you better go to college because DANG SON this ain’t been easy! haha but seriously if I can do it you can and I hope this encourages you to not only go to college but to seriously fight for what you believe in and don’t “tap out” don’t give up. Fight hard, be strong, and love deeply! I love you son, you’re too cool! 

Okay:: over and out! Peace. 

You ever meet some one new and the conversation always reaches the point where you ask ”Where are you from?”. Of course you have! So this is my answer everytime because I decided about 5 years ago that it was a difficult question for me to answer and I would keep this as my immediate response:

“I was born in Wilmington, NC. Lived in Arkansas…grew up some more in Ecuador, SA (this always catches some looks but I don’t slow down to adresses them). Came back to North Carolina for college because this is where I could get in-state tuition. As much as I have traveled my home is where I currently reside or where my parents are for the moment, Which today is __________”. For a while they (my parents) were still in Ecuador and now they are living in Hickory, NC just an hour or so south of Boone, that’s really nice for Wyatt and I because we get to see them frequently, if they are in town of course. HA! 

So I started to think that this is a ridiculously long answer so when people ask me where I am from I experiment… I just say “all over!” this doesn’t quite give them the satisfaction they are looking for. I think people want something more specific like an actual state or city. Then for a little I said “Italy.” People looked at me like yea of course you are… dark hair, olive skin! Cool! I think this made them happy because they felt as if they were meeting some one special… “say something in Italian!” they would reply. Of course I am not from Italy I do not speak Italian although I do have Italian blood in me I’m like a third generation American. My grandparents parents came over here…I think (sadly I just realized that I should probably know the history of my families migration to the states…) anyway so I had to then tell people that I myself was not born in Italy and that what I really meant was I was Italian… so that only happened like twice before I stopped saying it. Then I just stuck to the Wilmington thing, but when people started asking if I missed the beach my response was I don’t remember the beach…. ugggghhhh annoying! Then they are like well you aren’t really from there if you moved from there before you have real memories. Okay fine. So where am I from? And does it really matter? But it does seem to matter! because the question is ALWAYS asked! And the response is always picked apart and examined for authenticity. Where you’re from…It tells people something about you. 

The real point of this post wasn’t just to say that it’s annoying trying to get to know people because I can’t find a decent response for the “Where are you from?” question… I truly love that I have traveled as much as I have. I love that I have a ridiculous half country half nothing accent, from time spent in Arkansas and Ecuador. I love that I speak spanish fluently. I would never give back the experiences because I think it’s important to get out of your bubble, out of your comfort zone and see the world around you. 

Sadly the curse of all of this is feeling homeless. I have let my self become orphaned… I make friends easily because I have always had to. Yet, none of them are close. I am always on the go not really feeling settled in one particular location for an extended period of time. Since I moved out of my parents house I have moved homes probably once a year. Seriously…if not more. There are countless apartments that I didn’t even stay my year lease in… I’m unable to settle, I get bored. 

I haven’t seen certain family members in ages! Over time I’ve started to miss childhood friends but since there have been 10 yrs passed with out even a hello it’s so hard/weird trying to get in touch with these people. Ha. :s

I guess the real heart ache is knowing that what I want more than anything is to take Wyatt abroad and let him experience the third world and learn another language and culture, but I want to find a healthy balance and not leave him grown and feeling homeless. 

wow this post is getting depressing, I must go. Have a wonderful week all of you!!! 

Guido