BINGO-ooo and a bottle of rum

With eighteen days before I set off on my thru-hike, I’ve been getting antsy with few outlets to expend my energy. Things are coming in the mail nearly daily, and I get exponentially more excited every day. (My parents are going to lock me in the garage any day now)

Maybe my school district was unusual, but throughout elementary, middle, and high schools Bingo was an actual classroom activity. We did everything from critter bingo, colors bingo, and spelling word bingo to the Bill of Rights bingo, European History bingo, famous psychologists bingo, and yearbook bingo (don’t laugh – gotta learn those slander and libel laws somehow!).

And now, some of the circles I run in these days (cough reddit cough) use “bingo” as an actual noun.

Bingo (n): Cliche phrases people say in an effort to understand why the hell you would actually want to go on a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail.

After hours, days, weeks, months, and years (ha!) of research, I present the 100% scientific, peer-reviewed bingo card for each thru-hiker. Fill these out and return these to me at your earliest convenience (or never, I don’t keep track of things).

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Alternatively, you could turn this into a drinking game. (take a shot every time you get one of those squares. It’s most fun if you announce your intention to thru-hike at a party, for instance)

What are some interesting “bingos” you’ve gotten when people found out you were hiking? What are some attempts that have been done to convince you that it’s a terrible, no good, very bad idea?

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Comments 4

  • Katina : Feb 9th

    I think I just scored a bingo blackoutQ

    Reply
    • Katina : Feb 9th

      Bonus points for hitting a Q on the keyboard instead of an “!” in the above comment???

      Reply
  • Ram Sham : Feb 10th

    LOL, been there and done that….u will get past that and u still will deal with that *WHILE* and even *AFTER* hiking on the AT! 😉 Go with flow, Gina.

    Reply
  • Hollis : Jan 3rd

    So far I’ve gotten:
    1. That’s Awesome
    2. Look Us Up when you hit NY
    3. No Words, just laughter

    Reply

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