Dear Helen and Orlando,
My last week of summer was spent in Helen and Orlando
spending time with my sister. We were able to zip line, go to theme parks, see
awesome shows, and eat a lot of good food (on a budget). However, I’m not
writing to you so can hear a detailed letter about the things we did while we
were there. I’m writing to you to give you a huge thank you.
I’d like to give you both a huge thanks but I’ll start off
addressing Helen, Georgia.
Prior to this week, I never even knew you were on the map.
However, after this week you became the first stop on a road trip with my
sister. You became the place where my sister and me would go on our first
adventure together at the age of twenty and twenty-four. You allowed us to
laugh about getting lost driving to the zip line tour and a place to laugh even
more when we were scared about flying through the woods on a wire. Thank you
Helen for having nothing to do after we zip lined. If there was actually
something to do, we wouldn’t of gotten to try peach milkshakes together and sit
in a hotel room sharing silly stories from middle and high school.
Orlando, the things I have to thank you for are
unlimited. I’d like to start by thanking
you for Magic Kingdom. Without it, my sister and me wouldn’t have gotten to
reminiscence on childhood memories (something we haven’t done in ages). Magic
Kingdom allowed us to run through the rain racing to get to another ride and
laugh about getting stuck on a haunted mansion ride. If there was no Magic
Kingdom, me and my sister wouldn’t have got to stand in line for Space Mountain
for two hours talking about life and the way we viewed things. We also wouldn’t
of realized that we both agree people are way too touchy at amusement parks
(lol).
My next thank you is to Universal and Islands of Adventure.
You allowed me and my sister to ride The Mummy six times in a row and make
jokes about the horrible directions your employees give. Without these two
parks, we wouldn’t have had to work together in order to fit one bag in a
locker or try to be patient with the extremely annoying children behind us.
These two theme parks allowed us to be excited together, annoyed together, and
tired together. It allowed us to
compromise on things we wanted or didn’t want.
So why am I really thanking you guys? I thank you (Helen and Orlando) for allowing
me to see the sister I thought I lost to addiction so many years ago is still
there. And for a matter of fact, not only is she there but she's better than ever. The
map planning, long waits, tiring drives, yummy dinners, incredible shows, and
fun rides, allowed me to see my sister in ways that I never have before. For
the first time in my life, we were traveling together, laughing together,
talking together, and just being together. Being actual sisters to one another
is something I have dreamed of for so long. Yeah, she’s been sober for a couple
years now but I was coming to terms with the fact that we would probably never
be close. That’s when you came in, Helen and Orlando, that’s when you showed me
that I didn’t lose a sister, I gained one better than I could have ever
imagined.
I know people probably frown upon “airing dirty laundry” on
social media but I’m proud to say I no longer see my sisters past addiction as
“dirty laundry”. I see it as something that was very challenging but also
something so beautiful in the long run. It allowed our family to really
treasure the small things and not take anything for granted. Before this, I
would have hated waiting in line, driving twelve hours, and being in Orlando
during the hottest time of the year but the week we spent together will forever
be one of the best weeks of my life.
I also post this because I know God’s timing is incredible
and I really felt compelled to share this. Addiction is prevalent and it’s
scary so to those of you that may be in the boat my family was in a couple of
years ago: I know it’s hard to say anything that will make the situation better
because a lot of people don’t understand but I promise there’s hope and joy in
the long run if you keep the faith.
