I'm single. I feel old and I don't even have a girlfriend. What am I doing with my life? I travel any where I can possibly travel. Right now I'm in Venice. I'm getting ready to take a lonely boat ride. I'm close to 30 years old with no girlfriend. I'm so pathetic. I knew I should have proposed to my girlfriend back when I was dating in college. She was my first love..... Sophie doesn't count and I wouldn't have tried to do anything since Ace liked her.

"Excuse me. Are you in line for a boat ride?" I turn around and see a beautiful woman standing behind me.

"Are you talking to me?" I question and point to me.

She smiles and nods. "Yes. You are the only one close to me."

I glance around and see that she is very much right. I'm so awkward. 

"So, are you going to take a boat ride?"

I nod and she grins.

"Would you mind if I joined you? I'd rather not go by myself."

"No, of course. I would love it if you joined me."

-------THE YEAR OF HELLOS-------  

Three years later I married her. She is the love of my life. I never thought it would take me this long to get married, but I'm glad I waited and didn't just go off and marry someone I didn't love. She is one of the best things that have happened to me in my entire life. We live in Italy and visit the United States for vacations. My family misses me, but they are all happy for me. Her family likes me too and of course my family likes her. We are both happy. We don't have any kids, but we enjoy each other every day, every chance we get.

I gaze out the window at the beautiful view in front of me and slowly sip my coffee. My wife wraps her arms around me and I smile. "Tell me about your younger days again."

I glance back at her. "Why do you want to know about those days?"

She shrugs. "I just do."

"Well, I was in a band. Ace started it and that starts his story. On the other hand, my story starts when I started traveling."

"Why's that?" She questions.

"Because traveling made me find you."