05/03/2026
Hey there everyone. I know I've been a bit quiet as of late, but its not because I haven't been working hard, I promise. However, I need to take a minute and recognize someone who had become a big chunk of not only my personal life, but my travel business over the last many years.
I had posted a meme on my personal story yesterday that joked about how AIM was released 29 years ago and changed the way we communicate with one another. Being able to communicate with others so quickly shaped text messages, and the various ways we communicate over social media. Today, although I have my group of 'real life' friends I see routinely, I have so many more friends that I mainly communicate with over quick messages or funny memes where those relationships exist 99% on the 6" device that fits in my back pocket.
When I became a travel agent over 9 years ago, my intent was to be able to raise some extra funds to use towards the wedding. I used both word of mouth and social media to expand my network and meet people who may want help planning trips. I never expected it to bring people into my life that would turn into such great friends.
Over 7 years ago, I met Somer Tanner-Nisbet through another Disney fan. I can't explain why, but we just instantly clicked. Sure, its always easy to make Disney friends, but we truly had so much in common between us, including both having been burn victims. Being able to talk to her - when my scars were still relatively new and healing - and her knowing *exactly* how I was feeling was something that bonded us quickly.
Over the years Somer, her husband Andrew, and their son Tacoda took amazing trips together. They loved exploring together, with trips to different theme parks, a special birthday trip to Hawaii, and absolutely loved their 'Mickey boat'. Somer and I would talk and plan out their perfect trips where Tacoda would take on all the thrill rides, or Andrew could go deep sea fishing. She would send me pictures of her dropping off her beloved pups before her trip, or her scrambling to pack last minute asking me what to wear. When they were travelling, she'd always wake up before the boys and call me that morning from whatever balcony she was sitting on with her coffee and tell me all about what they did the day before or what they were doing that day. I always loved those calls and the photos she'd sent me throughout the day so I could live vicariously through her.
But more than that travel, Somer was a person who loved her son so incredibly fiercely, and was so proud of everything he did. She'd call me beaming with pride to tell me all about how Tacoda did so well with placement tests. This past fall, she called me when she found out Tacoda was going on the field at an Arizona Cardinals game as to hold one of those larger than life flags in the field, which with Tacoda recently having stared to play football, she was beyond ecstatic about being able to watch him get to do it.
Somer and I only got together in person just one time. I had planned a Universal trip for my husband and I, and she was going to be in Walt Disney World at the same time. She was planning a VIP tour day the day we were leaving. When I told her I'd just be missing her in Orlando, she called me and insisted we come along with her. For those of you that may not know, that experience isn't exactly inexpensive. I told her I couldn't do that, but then she borderline yelled at me to go (lovingly, of course). Needless to say, I pushed out our return home and extra day and we had the most fun day with the Nisbet family, hitting all of the parks and ending the day at my favorite restaurant on property. All in all, it was maybe 10 hours we spent together, and the first time we had met, but it felt like we had always known each other.
Late last year, Somer unexpectedly had to cancel a cruise over Christmas we had been planning for a while when she was sick in the hospital. Early this year she had been feeling better physically, but had a lot going on at home where we hadn't been able to talk too much. I sent a bunch of messages that hadn't been read and was so worried about her. Two weekends ago I woke up to a missed call from her. I tried to call her back, but couldn't reach her. I learned that she had gotten very sick, very quickly. About two weeks ago, she was released back home on hospice. Yesterday, heaven gained a new angel. She had just turned 43 a few weeks ago.
I know we are living through an expensive time in life right now - it just can't be avoided. But this is where I also say - money will always come.back, but time won't. It so important to make the time and the memories with the people you love. Time is a gift we just simply do not have enough of. Somer had many more ideas for places she wanted to get to with Andrew and Tacoda. Even if its on your own or through someone else - I hope you are making the memories as you can on amazing vacations.
I am so, so incredibly grateful to have known Somer. Beyond having her as a client - and knowing her trust in me helped me put a significant chunk into our down payment on our house - she truly became a great friend. I'll never travel again without having her on my mind, and try living out many of the plans we talked through she still wanted to do. My heart hurts, but mostly for her family, her pups, and her husband and young son who now have a huge void in their lives. I'll never forget how kind and caring of a person she was, and how in such a short time that I had known her, how great of a friend she was - even if its was mainly a digital friendship for the most part.
Rest in power, Somer. Love you, lady. ❤️
