A Friendship That Spanned Nearly 40 Years

Laura and I have been friends since 1985, back when we were both in 9th grade at North High School. I don't exactly remember how we first met, but if she were here, she could probably tell you the story in vivid detail. What I remember clearly is the lifeline she extended to me-a gesture of kindness that changed everything.

I had just moved back to Minnesota and was finding it hard to fit in at a new high school. I felt lost, unsure of my place in this new yet familiar environment. I didn't know Laura well at the time, but one day, out of the blue, she called me up and invited me to sleepover. That simple invitation meant the world to me. It was the start of a friendship that would last almost 40 years.

We were both just teenagers back then, 14 turning 15, and we were navigating the ups and downs of high school together. Like any friendship, ours at its ebbs and flows. We went through college, jobs, marriage and raising kids. Life took us in different paths at times, but our bond remained strong, and we grew especially close over last several years.

In honor of Laura, Books that Travel the World is a way to keep her spirit alive by sharing her passion of reading and desire to travel with others. By sharing the books we read, Laura's legacy carries on. Each book carries her spirit, traveling the world in her stead, touching lives as she did mine.

Almost 40 years of friendship-filled with laughter, tears, and countless memories. Our friendship was a gift, one that I will carry with me always. Through Books That Travel the World, I hope to share that gift with others, spreading a little bit of Laura's love and light wherever the books may go.