These were the best of times

It has been 23 months since he died.

It has been a year since I left Seattle.

I still have a lot of loose ends, unanswered questions, decisions to be made.

One of the most often asked question I get about my trip is "what was your favorite place?" I probably should have had a planned canned answer for that after the third or fourth person asked me.

I've spent a lot of time listening to the answers that I give when asked and it has led me to an answer, finally.

Fiji.

It's gorgeousness goes without saying.

But it was the best part of my trip for three reasons.

Rana Ransley, Caroline Wiklund and Leo Aro.

Three strangers who became friends in this beautiful tropical paradise.

When I close my eyes and think about the best days of the 6 months I was travelling, it is always the days I spent my first week in Fiji with Caroline and Leo in Wananavu, Fiji swimming and snorkeling and eating and Cava ceremonies.

Laughter. They brought that back to me.

They were the first strangers I shared my story with. They were so kind and open and receiving of the information in a way that didn't feel at all like pity.

I could so easily imagine him sitting with us, two couples laughing over Fijian beer. I felt comfortable. And dare I say, happy.

We haven't seen each other since February, but I know we will see each other again.

I'm not sure they knew what it meant to me to meet them and travel with them.

It meant the world.

It is also the first day of the second week in Fiji where a "random" meeting at the pool in Denarau brought Rana into my life.

She a frequent Fiji visitor but never at this resort, me hitting the pool in the late afternoon after a 2 hour drive from the remote resort paradise I never wanted to leave.

We struck up a conversation and before I knew it she had extended an invite to visit her in New Zealand.

She left the next day, and I spent a week at this resort ( a few evenings with my Swedish friends Caroline and Leo made it more fun).

I thought she was probably just being friendly when she invited me, but New Zealand was my next stop. A big storm hit NZ just as she was getting home so I reached out to see how things were and make sure they were okay. Rana asked when was I arriving, send me your itinerary, I will pick you up and you will stay at our home.

Before I knew it she had a full weekend agenda planned that was by far the best 4 days of the trip in terms of really being myself and letting loose and having fun.

She brought me into her home and her life. Introduced me to all her friends and her family and her parents and her business and her hairdresser. I mean I had never made a friend so fast.

She is brilliant in business, and kind and her spirit glows.

Fiji.

A magical place that provided friendship, comfort, laughter.

I won't hesitate again when asked what was the best part of my trip.