My medal delivered

I remember being 18 years old and sitting with a family friend in her living room. Judi was a travel writer (still is - last I heard she just got back from India) and she walked me through her "Travel Writing 101" crash course. I was fascinated - my life of travel and adventure was before me! I could see it (Vietnamese water markets), taste it (hot spring mineral water from the colonnade in Karlovy Vary), hear it (howler monkeys late at night outside Palenque), feel it (weltering heat of South Dakota badlands), smell it (fresh lime and pad thai on Haad Yao beach).

Life goes on, and things become what they are. The dream of being a writer came and went. But I kept plugging away, year after year, keeping my mind on one story or another, and managing to publish a few things in a few places, just enough to ensure the spark nevery died....completely.

So.... (okay, I'm getting to the point of all this)... you can imagine how absolutely amazing it feels to say that during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, I am working for Tourism BC's media relations department writing story ideas that will be sent to travel media around the world.  My first batch were released yesterday.

My words! My words sent to media all over the world! For a few short days, I AM A TRAVEL WRITER!!