Just a Maryland girl at heart

So when I met Steve, I hadn't been much of anywhere. I had lived on the same street my entire life, bought a house a block away from my parents. As a child, we vacationed "downy ocean, hon". As an adult, I vacationed there too. Sure there were day or weekend trips to Virginia to go to an Amway convention with my parents, maybe Kings Dominion or Busch Gardens. My grandparents took us up to Amish Country in Lancaster PA too. The only reason I ever really left Maryland to see another state that didn't share our border was because my sister had married a Navy guy/nomad and moved from state to state. Oh, and there was the one childhood road trip down 95 to Disney World courtesy of my grandparents in 2nd grade.

I liked living in my hometown, on my childhood street. I liked that I had vacationed in the same place for most of my life. I was ok with my small world. I never cared or thought about venturing far. Maryland was perfectly fine with me.

Then I found myself single again. Never expected that. Then dating. Online. I was corresponding with this really nice single dad. He sent me a picture. I didn't know much about him. In my innocence I asked if the picture had been taken in Busch Gardens. It looked just like I remembered the "Germany" part looking. I gave the guy a good laugh, as the picture was taken in Germany. Who knew people actually went there? I ended up marrying the guy and never living that one down.

Steve Rothenburg

He was even sweet enough to take me there. I was scared out of my mind to even go. Seriously, not only go to another country, but one where they don't speak English?!?! Talk about stepping outside of my cozy little world.

Steve and Janie Rothenburg

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We rented a car this trip and he drove me to as many places as he could in 10 days. We started in Germany. Then we drove to Paris for a couple days. Back down into Germany to see the Black Forest. Through the Swiss Alps into Italy to see Venice. Then back up through Austria to get back to Germany. It was a magical once in a lifetime trip for me. I still can't believe I went to those places. Places and things I thought I would only see in books, never experience first hand. I had my best friend as my tour guide. He even made sure he drove through Liechtenstein just so I could say we had been there.  He stopped at a grocery store in every country, just because I wanted to see what kind of cereal people ate in other countries. We ate schnitzel, crepes with nutella, real italian pizza, bacio gelati, goulash, and Black Forest Cake. We drank cappucinos at little restaurants on the side of the road. We bought cherries and fresh bread from a roadside stand by the Rhine river. I would go into more detail, but I would bore you all. I could go on for days.

I never imagined wandering that far from my small town south of Baltimore. Steve loves me so much, he wanted to share Europe with me. He knew I would love it just like he did. I think I can take a lifetime of being teased.