2010 is drawing to a close.

Chris Smith's parents believe their son is now wandering around the world.

He's got money to spend thanks to a payout he got when he sold his share with the company he co-owned with

his partner at Shin.

The journey had started off looking like an idyllic escape for a stressed-out young man. He was on a sailboat. He told

his brother he had a former Playboy playmate for company. But a few weeks have stretched

into months, and he's no longer talking about tropical paradises,

Chris now seems drawn to trouble spots and danger zones.

It's been nearly six months now. spots and the danger zones. The Smith family is sitting down without him for Thanksgiving dinner.

His sister-in-law, Leah, tells me that up till then the family never really talked about how

weird everything was. They are emotionally close, but like so many of us, they lead busy lives.

Paul's parents were busy running multiple businesses,

and then Paul at 800 Exchange,

I was busy with little kids, and I didn't feel like we were talking a ton because

everyone was so busy like maybe once every two weeks or so.

The Smith said hoped that by the time they sat around the Thanksgiving table, Chris would

be right there with him.

Erica by his side, a diamond sparkling on her finger. But instead of glowing smiles, there are now two

empty seats. All they have are those emails.

For me, as they started coming in it was more very

sporadic and usually I wrote a lot more emails because I'm missing him I'm

wondering where are you so I would do that and then then occasionally we come back well mom you know? So I would do that and then occasionally we come back well mom you

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