Date: 2013-08-21
From: home

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I had faith there was a reason besides my physical problems that i needed to get off the trail. My Mom is not doing well and so i am in Phoenix visiting her. She has been fighting a valiant battle with cancer and i have been blessed to get to spend some more time with her. Well it's been almost 6 weeks since I had to leave the trail. I have spent time with family, and just getting use to life off the trail. Awesome Wife and I got to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary in Charleston, SC. We had a great time and are now settling into daily life back home and work. I closed my surgical laser business of 13 years before I left for the trail, and now plan on assisting Nanci with her real estate business. I got my license before I started trail so I would be ready to work with Nanci as a team in the business. She has built a very good business and I plan on supporting her in anyway I can without messing it up too much! Ha! As to my injuries. The achillies tendon is healing very slowly and may require some surgery. The feet are still numb and sore but I am getting feeling back slowly. Amazing how feet that are numb can still be painful! I have started walking again, 5 miles at a time, to try and stay in somewhat shape. If I have to have surgery I want to get it done so I can rehab and be ready for my continued hike North next summer. It's amazing to me how long it has taken to decompress from the trail! I went through a bunch of feelings I didn't expect. Disappointment, sadness, relief, and every other emotion. I miss the trail. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled to be home with Awesome Wife, and to have visited with kids and Grandson, but I do think of the trail everyday. What an awesome experience it was. I learned so much, what to do and not to do. What gear works and what doesn't. I also learned what I'm capable of and gained a lot of confidence going forward. When I first got off the trail, I just felt so depressed and a failure. I am not used to not completing a task I've started. I had dreamed of thru-hiking the trail for over 30 years and felt like I failed. I have had many unbelievably positive responses from friends, family, and so many fellow thru-hikers I had met, who have encouraged me and helped change my thinking. I will finish my hike starting where I left off next summer!! I met so many great people on my hike. It really did restore my belief in the goodness of people. It is so easy to become cynical in the times we live. Trail Angels such as Apple, Pam and Mike, Church Groups, Fidget and Dot Com, Mike and Shirley, and of course, Awesome Wife just proved this point! Thank you all! I know I have not mentioned a fourth of the people who helped, including several past thru-hikers who left trail magic it seemed at just the right time! Amazing!I continue to follow and root for all the 2013 Thru's! Go Karma, Green Blaze, Jabber Wocki, Great Legs, Fifteen, 2 Socks, DB Cooper, Quaker, Beerdra, Twix, Salsa, Bluegrass, and so many others! Also, others who really had an impact on me, Journey, Dixie, Black Hawk, Pathfinder, Quaker, Smiley Virgin, Whirled Peas, Rocket, Avocado, Obie, Beatle Juice, Trucker, and so many others! What a group!! I only pray I meet as many fun and inspiring people next summer when I continue my hike!! More to come later, go 2013's!50/50