week of stories: the beginning.

It was one year ago today, that Gabriel and I became friends + pen pals. On Friday, I found a small box on my doorstep and raced inside, grasping at sticky packaging tape and revealing a wrapped package and folded note. It read:

Dear Bethany,

I couldn't have hoped for a better time over the past year, except that we would have had more time together. But, I know we have a lifetime of adventures to come. Here's a little something to show where we were the night everything changed.


I love you,
Gabriel

Inside were two books, gorgeously bound historic photos of my city, Eau Claire...and of Santa Cruz. The cities we were in the night we became friends. My city is close to my heart. Although barely noticeable on a map, the city holds more memories than I thought possible. Flipping through the photos, I spotted photos from the 20s, taken just blocks from my apartment and beautiful snapshots of families from decades ago.
 

My heart started churning over this reminder: Document the past lest it be lost in the future. For six months I've been prodding myself to write about my time with Gabriel, the first week we spent together. It was a mere seven days, yet a whirlwind of travel and romance. Just months ago, memories of it were crisply ironed into my mind. But, in time those crisply pleated memories have become lightly wrinkled, and as months pass, I'll struggle more to remember where we were, what was said and felt.

So, it's time to write it out. Welcome to this week of stories, from day one to day seven.

Tomorrow: Chapter 1. :)