Okay, so maybe that title isn't exactly the truth, but it makes for a fun story, right?

The first time I ever boarded an airplane was to fly to see a boyfriend that lived 800 miles away. As a girl from Eastern North Carolina, the farthest South I had ever been was Disney World and the farthest North I had ever been was Washington D.C and the West, well I had never been West.

I know, I'm a little deprived in the travel department but I grew up playing travel softball, so my weekends and vacations were always full of red clay, teammates that became family, the occasional home run followed by a trot around the bases and most importantly the Crystal Coast.

I met a guy online when he was near my university visiting family and we clicked and began talking every day. We were really hitting things off and he decided to drive 13 hours to visit me for a weekend over his Christmas break. I never would have asked him to do this and I kind of felt bad that he was driving that far for me but it was what he wanted to do. He came for New Year's Eve, which just so happened to be his birthday weekend, so not only did I have to get him a late Christmas present, but I also had to get him a birthday present and I figured that after that drive, he deserved a New Year's kiss as well.

I loved that he made the effort to come all the way to see me and I knew that it would soon be time for me to return the favor. It's not that I'm high maintenance, okay I am, but I was not about to sit behind the wheel of a car for 13 hours for a boy that hadn't even asked me to officially be his girlfriend yet, so I bought a plane ticket and loaded up on the next cheap Delta flight to Jackson, Mississippi.

My parents weren't exactly a fan of this, but they knew they couldn't stop me. My mom knew that she had 'been there, done that' for a guy so they just let me go and learn my lesson on my own.

Thankfully he had come to me first and we had a really good thing going so I knew it wouldn't be awkward, but this was not how I pictured my first time on an airplane. I always imagined that for my first time on a plane I would be headed to Europe or the Caribbean but instead, this southern girl was just headed a little farther South.

Two 45-minute flights, and a 50-minute layover later I found myself getting in his car and heading to his house.

Me and this guy are no longer together but I can honestly say there is nothing about our relationship I regret. We were only together for about five months, but it was a good five months and I learned so much about myself.

I learned how difficult a long-distance relationship can be and I learned that while in a relationship I liked my independence, but I still itched for the physical affection that a long-distance relationship lacked.

To my Mississippi boy, I would like to say thank you. Thank you for being my best friend for five months, thank you for calling me and Facetiming me for hours on end, and thank you for teaching me more about myself that I ever could have figured out without you.

One day, I hope our paths cross again and I can tell you this in person. I wish for you the happiness you deserve and thank you for the life-long lessons I learned from you. I know that one day you will meet the girl that deserves your huge heart, southern charm, and unique personality and maybe by chance that girl will be me.