Date: 2002-08-21
To: Family and Friends
Miles today: 0.0

What would we do without the support of family and friends? When I first announced my decision to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, as anyone knows who has made this decision, you get a real mixed bag of responses. My first really positive, excited response came from my brother-in-law. Thanks Mike, you can¢t imagine how important that was to me! I have heard everything from ¢You are so brave to do something like this¢, to ¢Why would you want to do this¢? Susie thinks that I should find something else to fulfill this need I have. She very seriously said, ¢I don¢t like this¢. Susie clipped an article out of the local paper about a man that was mauled by a bear out west. I suspect that Susie will be able to supply me with a steady stream of wilderness mishaps between now and next March when I leave. I love her dearly for her concern, but no amount of ¢disaster¢ stories will change my mind.My co-workers (www.mainstreetcenter.com) are the best! They will cover for me during the 5 months that I¢ll be gone. Their workload will increase and still they support me. Thanks Mark, Andrea and Mary Ellen.When my friend Glenn voiced his concern I told him not to worry, I was a big girl now. He replied, ¢The trouble with bears and perverts is that they don¢t care how old you are¢! I know that he¢s only concerned for my safety.By far my biggest supporters are my friends from book club, Carla, Carol, Patty, Joyce, Pam, Francine, Lexa, Mary Anne, and Lynn. Thank you ladies for being so positive. I look to you for wisdom, energy and camaraderie to help get me through this monumental undertaking. Early next year we will read a trail related book to get them more involved in the process of a thru-hike and then they will follow me up the trail on trailjournals.com. Several of them will meet me along the trail.I have had the good fortune of corresponding regularly with Two Scoops who is in the Whites right now. In less than 400 miles he will summit Kathadin. I even had the chance to meet up with him in Carlisle, Pa back in June and he graciously let me bend his hear for 5 hours. Thanks, Dale.Many people have e-mailed me after reading my journal entries and I¢m so appreciative of the time they take to share their thoughts and knowledge of backpacking.My brother John and sister-in-law Kathy will be in charge of my mail drops. John has been a backpacker for years and will be a tremendous asset to my cause. I¢m not sure what I¢d do without them. All of my siblings are adventurers of sorts. Barbara lives in Alaska with her husband Andy and has traveled extensively. Karen lived in Alaska for years and enjoys doing anything related to the outdoors with my nephew Jacob. Sandy, married to Mike, with 2 sons, has traveled in Europe and the states. Kim, married to Rory, is an RN and stays busy raising their 2 young children. My husband Jack will take on the biggest feat of all while I¢m gone. He¢ll pay the bills, care for the yard and the cars, feed the animals and rub the soft, furry ears and tummies of the dogs. He¢ll clean the cottage (I hope), shop for groceries, and collect the mail; all things that he has not had to think about much in the past 28 years. I think it will be a growing experience for both of us!All of these people have helped to make me who I am. They give me the strength, love and the commitment that will enable me to go out the door and not come back until I have walked from Georgia to Maine. May their lives be blessed with goodness.