Date: 2003-11-08
To: Out of Body Experience
Miles today: 0.0

I am having an out of body experience - I rented an apartment. Whoa! What a strange feeling!! I watched in amazement as the lady at the complex handed me a ring full of keys. I guess I have to get a key chain now, I haven't had one of those for about 8 months. Hmmm! It's all too surreal as I "settle" into living in a room with four sides and a roof - not like those three sided shelters. I also started a job about one week after I completed the trail - Yes, another shock to the system. What do you mean I can't wake up when I want to? What is this idea of bathing daily and changing clothes so often? Of course when I got back home (just long enough to pack) my clothes didn't fit me - not my shoes, not my pants (which I am glad about having lost about 25 pounds on the trail.) So I have had to start over from scratch in some circumstances. I am still trying to remember to carry my cell phone with me wherever I go. I still look at payphones differently now since they used to be my only means of communication before. I still look for libraries for internet access, even though there is a wonderful computer at my office desk. I made myself a pot of 1/2 Ramen noodles and Idaho Instant Loaded Potatoes - yum, yum. And I ate out of the pot - not even thinking about using a dish. It wasn't until recently I realized that I ate at way too many diners in the towns along the trails. In those diners the syrup for your pancakes is in those little metal containers. In a slightly classier joint one day, I instinctively reached for the metal container and poured its contents on my french toast. It was cream, of course, so I had milktoast instead of syrup.I still look for white blazes and blue ones too. You'd be amazed at how much of a resemblance there is to white trail blazes and white highway reflectors. Anytime I see a trail, my eyes instinctively follow it and wonder what lies beyond where I can see. I wonder how difficult the terrain is and if it's rocky or smooth. I wonder how long the path is and if there are any good campsites on it. All this in a flash of a moment as I am driving past.Speaking of driving, I think I am the slowest one on the road. I have taken to riding in the right lane mostly. I just can't seem to keep up with the rest of the cars who want to go 65 miles an hour (which is perfectly legal here). I am comfie at 55 mph these days and venture into 65 MPH now and then. Don't laugh, that's an improvement, I was going 40 MPH when I first started driving on highways. I guess I just don't get what the hurry is anymore.And yes, tomorrow, I will drive to the AT in Massachusetts (where I am working) or find some trail and I will hike on some of it just to feel sane again. Even though the temperature is in the 20's these days and the wind chill in the teens. I figure I should get my exercise while I can. And I may load up my backpack with rocks just for extra effort. I need a good workout! Nothing gives it to you like the trail. I miss Mother Nature, so I can't wait to venture out tomorrow. Keeping the trail alive, SONICP.S. 'Guana has become a nomad travelling about the country visiting friends and family. She's really in denial...ha, ha. Perhaps I can get her to write something about her misadentures of post-trail re-entry.