It’s been four years since I’ve spoken to my brother John. I’ve “talked” to him since then but nothing can replace the two-way communication of a conversation, no matter what the topic. Recently, on my trip to Peru with my family, I hiked the Inca Trail with my brother Mike and our friend Sean, and I found a new connection. The Inca trail is hiked by thousands of tourists and everyone starts from the same starting point, Kilometer 82 towards Machu Picchu. The trail is comfortable enough for one hiker and her bag; it’s a walkway that at times is only surrounded by the mountain on one side and the edge of a cliff on the other. An amazing thought occurred to me on my journey. In the midst of the natural beauty of the Peruvian Andes, I thought that although it’s been five years since he hiked the historical trail, the circumstances of the hike guarantees that I just walked in the same footsteps as John did. There’s a mystical connection in knowing that we shared a unique experience, despite the confines of time. The path was laid out and all I had to do was follow and experience it. I feel blessed that I was able to share this experience with the rest of my family. Not only did I enjoy the amazing experience of the Inca Trail, I also experienced a new connection- a connection that cannot replace the loss of my big brother, but a connection that can in a small way refill the void nonetheless.
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