The other day, I was chatting with *Patricia. While we discussed some of our past travels and highlighted fond memories, she recounted her trip to Sacramento, pointing out that she didn’t really remember what happened that weekend, the restaurants and tours all a whirlwind,  but she said, “I  remembered who I was with.”

As a young person, this really hit home, a powerful reminder of the lifelong value of friendships, where conversations and the sense of belonging last long after the destination has faded away.

*the name of interviewee has been changed to respect their privacy