A Trip to Holland

In Memory of Lucas

You have decided to travel to France. The trip is a few months away, but you start planning now in advance. You research the culture and learn the language. You study on local cuisine and fine dining. You take it upon yourself to learn the nation's history and it's government. All the while, the excitement is building, and you can feel that France is going to be a once in a lifetime event that will burn in your memory forever.

The magical day arrives, and off to the airport you go! You board your plane promptly, and as the plane takes off, you know the adventure has just begun. However, since it is a long trip, you close your eyes and fall asleep.

When you land, you step off the plane, and strangely enough, you see none of the sights you have come to know through your intense research on France. In fact, none of the people are even speaking French! You ask around desperately if someone can speak English (or French), and upon finding someone who does, you ask where you are. It is then you realize that you have accidentally landed in Holland.

At first, Holland is tough to adapt to. After all, you hadn't researched any of what Holland had to offer. You can't speak Dutch, and you have no desire for wooden shoes. (Later, you find out that they don't really wear those wooden shoes much at all!) You wanted the Eifel Tower, but instead, you got windmills. You wanted croissants, but instead, you ended up with frikadeller.

However, with time, you come to realize that Holland is a very beautiful place. Its people are vibrant with a rich culture and history of their own. The language is precious, and it offers its own artisans just as France has, but practicing their own unique style. You can tell that you'll be fine staying there, learning and adapting as needed because now, rather than being fully prepared and knowing what to expect, Holland has an element of surprise you couldn't have had in France.

So many people want the perfect pet. However, unexpected events arise, and our "travel plans" change. Thank you, Lucas, for showing that beauty, love, and friendship can come from the least of us to the greatest of us, regardless of our state in life.