Well, the Hague was enjoyable, but I have to admit, my early excitement did not hold. Maybe it was because the wildlife photography exhibit in the Museon nearly made me weep, maybe once again being confronted with the destruction of the rainforests left me in despair, maybe seeing the abject poverty and squalor most of the world lives in made me disgusted with myself, when in my charmed existence my main concern is whether or not I am capable of loving. Or maybe it's just that by the end of the day I was tired and my legs were quite sore.

But no, I think the reality is, it is not enough simply to see a thing; in the end it means so much more to have someone whose arm you can grasp and say, "Oh my god, look at that."

And so, while I can have a perfectly enjoyable time on my own, I think I lose something without having anyone to directly share it with. I think it may be that you can only have half an experience without the input and understanding of a beloved soul, without challenging conversation, secret smiles and shared laughter. I seem to prove over and over: I can go everywhere and do anything alone, but I cannot feel everything alone.

Still, though at this moment I genuinely enjoy the company of as many as five people, I maintain there is no one here I could share these experiences with.

Lani and Josh, would that you were anything like two blocks away.

Oh what a world my parents gave me
Always travelling but not in love
Still I think I'm doing fine...
Rufus