Brian Rios

I remain ever-grateful to my grandparents, who opened my eyes to new worlds.

I remain ever-thankful to my parents, who showed me that I held the key to new worlds.

And I remain ever-in-love with my wife, whose eyes are the stars by which I map new worlds.

-- I am a lifelong resident of Monterey Bay, California, who has had the good fortune of being able to travel beyond the confines of his origins. Over the course of my short life, I have crawled through caves, swam with dolphins, and cooked marshmallows using the heat of an active volcano. I have seen shamans perform their rituals atop mountains in Guatemala, and I have shared lunch with an indigenous speaker of Rabinal Achi. The soles of my feet have not touched near as many soils as those of my grandparents but one day I hope to tread as many paths as they, for there is much beauty within this world.

However, it is the beauty WITHOUT which I am ever-drawn to, and for which I am compelled to throw open the gateways to new realms.