A ghost town is defined as, “a deserted town with few or no remaining inhabitants.” What I experienced on this journey, taught me that they are much more than that.
Starting out I was pretty wary of what I was going to find. Will I see a ghost? Could I be harmed? Will I get lost? I never thought that I would get attached to the places that I visited. Many of them have nothing left, some of them do. But after finishing this journey, I realized that the important stuff isn’t what is left or what happens to me. Its taking the time to find these lost places, and learning about them. Or should I say, learning from them.
Growing up, I always hated History, and I never cared enough to want to learn about it. I have met people who major in history, and I remember thinking to myself that they are crazy. Who wants to be stuck in the past anyway? It wasn’t until I took the time to learn and really care about the history of these places, that I finally understood why people can fall in love with the past.
In a way, I felt like I visited the past when I found a new place. Every town that I visited has a back story, with rises and downfalls. Some held on longer than others, and some didn’t even have a chance. I took time to understand the life that was lived in these towns, and I truly cared. No town was the same, but at one point in life, someone called them home. Every time I left a location, I took a part of its story and gave a part of my heart knowing that one day it may completely disappear.
With this book, my hope is that you can fall in love with these places too.