Are You a Voyager?

The Long Goodbye

The last two weeks have been filled with what I will call Appalachian Trail goodbyes. You don’t realize how many people are in your life until you start saying goodbye to them. It started with Grambo hosting a BBQ for family and friends. Then there was the tearful goodbye and a company luncheon. I’ve spent sooo many hours with my co-workers over the last 16 years. The last two nights were goodbye dinners with my family. I between all that there was a quick visit to see my granddaughters. I’m horrible at goodbyes. I prefer to just ignore them but I will truly miss all of you and know that in my hours hiking you will be in my thoughts.

I NOT Go On Blood Mountain

During my visit with my daughter and her family we crammed in lots of fun including Beauty and the Best and Moana screenings. While I was tucking in my two granddaughters one night we were laughing discussing which characters in Moana we were. The two year old was singing the songs about voyagers. I asked her if she was a voyager. She said “no, I not a voyager”. I laughed and said “I am!”. We laughed and talked more silliness. Suddenly she jumped on me and stared into my eyes in the room lit dimly by a nightlight. For a few seconds she didn’t say anything. She only searched my eyes with her dark brown eyes that appeared to be coal black hinting at her Welsh heritage. In those few seconds it seemed as though she was assessing whether or not I was indeed a voyager and if I was up to the journey I was about to start. Could she see that I in fact was asking those same questions of myself? Still looking intently in my eyes she said “I not go on Blood Mountain”. I quietly responded with a mischievous lilt “I am”. We both smiled and laughed.

Into the (not so) Wild

I’m very unsure of my ability to physically complete this hike. My body just seems to break down at every turn with injury. Am I really leaving all these comforts in a wonderful home, family, and friends to march up and down mountains in rain, maybe snow, maybe hail, and at the end of the day sleep in a glorified trash bag (per my daughter that’s what my Zpacks Duplex looks like)? After weeks of nightmares about leaving my sleeping bag, shoes or some other vital piece of gear and all the goodbyes I in fact am doing just that. My next post will be from the trail. Blood Mountain here I come!

 

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Comments 1

  • Brenda Lynch : Mar 26th

    The post is wonderful. I hope to follow you here for every mile. Aren’t grandchildren the most wonderful little human beings. When I read your story it brought tears to my eyes. In 2008 my own Mom was dying of cancer and the last time my then 5 year old Granddaughter saw her–I watched with wonder as she sat in a chair and literally seem to “etch my Mom on her brain”(only way I know to describe it)–amazing, she still remembers her and is influenced by her memory all the time. You will carry that memory of your little sweetie all the way to your goal and when we are gone from this earth she will still be telling folks “what my Grandmother did”–what an example you are for her! Thank you for sharing your life!! Enjoy your Voyage!!

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