17 zeros

"It's early in the morning
What are we doing up still
Drinking wine out of coffee cups
That's fine by me"
- Langhorne Slim

This was truly a wonderful time spent at home.  And I am so thankful.

Long Trail montage

Two months time

“Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road.
Healthy, free, the world before me.
The long brown path before me leading me wherever I choose.
Henceforth, I ask not good fortune, I myself am good fortune.
Henceforth, I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing.”

- Walt Whitman

 

I look to my left and then to my right.  As far as the eye can see is a distinct clearing.  One straight line, marking the border between Canada and the United States.  I smoke my pipe on Canadian soil.  The date is October 21, 2013.

Two months later, I'm sitting in my parent's house in Georgia.  Coffee.  Food.  Cats.  Family.  Rest.

I have hiked about 500 miles, from Quebec to the New York/New Jersey border.  It's already been an exciting adventure, and there is still about 1,300 miles waiting for me when I get back,

I decided to take about two weeks off for the Christmas season so that I can relax and spend some quality time with my family.  Originally, I was only planning on one week, but after some bitterly cold mornings and painfully frozen fingers (plus a few moments of "what the hell am I doing out here?"), I decided to come home a week early.

I hitched a ride from the Trail to New York City (complete wilderness to complete metropolis in one hour).  One subway and bus ride later, I was in LaGuardia Airport standing by for the next flight to Atlanta.  I was able to catch the second to last flight out, and made it home in time to catch the midnight premiere of The Hobbit, surprising my brother and best friend at our local theater.  Wow!  What a day... (I had only decided to come home that morning... a completely last minute decision).

And so, it's been wonderful doing not much of anything and just hanging out with my family and friends and cats.  After Christmas, it will be time to return to the snow and ice and begin the new year.

The Reminder

"Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our forefathers in those days, at this time."

- Hanukkah blessing

I have a lot to be thankful for. 

One thing I love about thru-hiking, is that you quickly realize how much you take for granted back in the "other" world (I don't want to say "real" world, because this hiking world is just as REAL as the other... It's just different).

I'm so thankful for all the time I've spent with my family and friends over the past 26 years. This Hanukkah season and Thanksgiving (Thanksgivukkah!!) were honestly great. I enjoyed the different experience of being in Nature and the solitude. But again, it really reminded me how wonderful family and friends are. 

I knew that, of course. I knew that spending Thanksgiving and Hanukkah alone would not be as enjoyable as it would have been with family, but it's not the same knowing something as it is to experience it. 

So I'm thankful for my family and friends and home and all the wonderful memories over the years. 

But I'm also incredibly thankful for the reminder. 

That's a kitten chewing a bicycle tire.