ARGH! Only Three Weeks Left?

It has been nearly a month since my last post.  How quickly time passes while you're counting down towards something...

I was immensely fortunate in that I was able to squeeze in a wonderful (but always too-short) visit home to Ohio a couple weeks ago.  I can't tell you how much it means to me that I was able to spend some time with my family before Stew and I embark on our hike.  For many reasons, the trip home has settled my mind- almost as though it were an essential "finishing touch" to my entire year of preparation.  I feel I'll be able to walk the Trail now with a solid and clear heart.  That's one of the great rewards of having an amazing, supportive family: a solid and clear heart.  I'm glad Stewart will be visiting his own family over in Arkansas in a few weeks, though I'm sorry I won't be able to go with him. 

Saying "goodbye" was harder than it ever has been, and I can't really figure why.  But it was hard to hold back the tears while departing- in fact, I'll admit I failed.  :)  And in my haste to leave without standing there and blubbering like a child I forgot to properly say goodbye to my dogs.  As you can tell from the picture below, they KNOW.  I have much apologizing to do next time I see them.

Dogs always know! 

I took many wonderful pictures while home and hope to devote an entire blog to showing them off!  I also would like to add that I am very grateful for the knife my grandfather passed down to me to take with me on my journeys.  He's had it since the 1950s and told me it once was used to skin carribou in Alaska!  I'll be proud to carry it and hope I can add my own bit of story to its history. Stewart admired the knife so much that it inspired him to go out and buy a similar one once we got back to Columbia.  I will be sure to include some pictures before I leave.  Thank you again, grandpa.

Aside from my trip home nothing of much interest has happened.  My last large piece of gear arrived in the mail a week ago: my hiking poles.  I think they'll take some getting used to, because every time I try and walk with them around the house, my steps look too awkward and deliberate- like I have to think "Okay, left arm forward, right leg forward, right arm forward, ... DOH!" And I usually go stumbling over myself.  But maybe grace takes a little practice...

I have two remaining weeks of work left, then a week off in which I can fully pack up my belongings and mentally prepare to leave.  Stewart should be gone for that week, returning only a few days before we're set to leave.  His father has graciously agreed to help us move and store our home furniture, clothes, etc. while we're away, and so will be returning with him to help us all pack it up and ship it off.  I keep thinking "I will have no house keys, no car keys, no work keys, for over six months. Keys to nothing.  I'll own nothing that is not with me."  To me, that is amazing.  It means no attachments... and I can't wait to see what that feels like. 

Thanks to all who've been leaving comments and asking about my blog in person, it really means a lot to me that you are so interested in our hike. 

Until next time!