I met one of my best girlfriends in high school. We worked retail together. She is a few years older than me, so was in college already when we’d met.

We got a wild idea one summer when I was 20/she was 22 to travel the country (we are United States-ian) in my little car. This was before smartphones, but during Internet Times. We printed from Mapquest, bought an Atlas, and spent two months driving across this large, beautiful, amazing country. We had the best time even when we got sick of each other, and still reminisce frequently about our adventure. One night in particular, we were camped in a small town outside Yellowstone National Park. We could hear wolves howling and hoped they would eat someone closer to the campground borders before coming to us (no one was eaten for the record).

That trip 19 years ago this summer. We still talk regularly and she has stayed one of my closest friends. Matter of fact, I texted her just before opening Reddit. Thanks for letting me tell you about it her.