Date: 2012-12-08
To: Thinking back
Miles today: 0.0

Hey everyone!I have not written in a while and figured it best that I jump on and write a little bit here. The seasons are changing, and lots of us have successfully completed the trail since I started back in March... Wow has it been a journey. Back in February I made two big choices, I decided that I wanted to fulfill my dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail, and I chose to raise my right hand and swear to protect the United States with the United States Air Force. Two huge choices, but isn't it kinda a contradicting combination of things? I mean lets look at this... The Trail - a place to be free, to do what I want, when I want how I want to. A place where I do not really have any rules, heck I went shopping in boxers and a down coat and that was OK! I could be as late as I wanted - or just say the heck with it and go back to sleep. Now... the military - I do exactly what THEY want and when THEY want me to do it, I wear my uniform just about everywhere. I do not really have any say on what I do or how I do it... now here is the best part - I LOVE IT! The military is not really bad at all as far as freedoms. In reality I do have a lot of freedom still and am given lots of leeway as far as what I do, not your right in bootcamp it was not that way, but after that it loosens up. Especially in the Air Force they want someone who can do the right thing when nobody is looking, so they do not want to keep us so close on the leash. I have to get myself up every day at 0545 and get ready for class, I go to eat at the dining facility, and I make sure I am awake and ready to learn. Class gets out at around 1630 and I get to relax in the evenings for the most part since my job does not allow me to bring back our notes or books. I will leave this base after Christmas if all goes well and go to another base for around a year. After that I will go to my first duty base. I checked the option for anywhere in the world, but of course I picked some fun places I would love to go - like Anchorage Alaska! I love the decision I have made and love my work and serving my great country. Back in the day before I was military I would always get goosebumps and that tingling feeling when I saw a soldier coming home, or when we sang the national anthem, or when a patriotic country song came on the radio... now I have answered that feeling, and I am so proud of that. I put on the uniform every day, it will never get old. I am honored to get the opportunity to serve.The Appalachian Trail is something I miss greatly, the background of my computer is a picture of me on the trail - I change it routinely to different spots on the trail. Currently it is me sitting near the Franconia Ridge on the little cement square on top of Garfield Mtn I believe its name was (AKA pain in the butt mountain). I learned so much on the trail and I am still coming to realize it. My level of confidence and determination is like no other, and that people can see. For example the past few days I have had a horrible cold... My job training is very unique and VERY hard, it requires a lot of PT and 100% in the classroom every day. I went through two full boxes of tissues while in class on thursday. However, when we went out to PT my instructor expected me to fall behind because I was so congested and sick, THINK AGAIN! I was not only keeping up, but I passed by the healthy people, I gave it my all. He could see me groaning and darn near in tears as I pushed myself to give it my all - he does not realize where I come from or what I have done. I will not fail - we started our class 10 days ago, we had 34... we now only have 10, the others could not hack it. Every day I find myself thinking about the trail in some way. Nearly everything I do brings back a memory or a place. Yesterday somebody was complaining about having to carry a heavy pack for a few miles (3), I just laughed inside and thought about the day I hiked 62.4 miles over mountains, in the rain, with a full resupplied pack! Beat that! The trail is greatly missed, but it is not gone. I will return to it and hike on it again one day. Some people have asked me if I will thru hike it again, I am not sure - but I will be doing more long hikes. I was thinking of maybe across Ireland though - or across Alaska or something. The AT is a great place, but there are many more great places. I want to see them all, I want to be greedy with my adventures. I want to LIVE THIS LIFE! I saw a saying the other day as I passed by a church... it read "Put the Life in your Years, not the Years in your Life!" TRUE!!! So very true! Jumping back a few years... 2002-2006 to be precise. I was in High School at this time. I did not really know who I was or what I was meant to do. I was hardcore set on joining the Marine Corps - but I was weak, shy, and really did not have what it took. But I jumped up anyways and started training with them, things did not work out on that end. At that point though I had not gone on any adventures yet. I had told people of my dreams, but they all doubted me. I was a lot of talk, but had not proved anything yet. Fellow classmates doubted me and laughed at me. I was not sure I would ever have the chance to do anything that I dreamed of. But that fire still burned. I got a letter in the mail the other day from a dear friend of mine. It was a letter from my neighbor - they are like a second family to me. It said "Now I know you're looking forward to your future, but I found something that will remind you of your past!" Enclosed was a business card and a flyer.. it was for McKinley Landscaping! "The best landscaping in town"https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/532116_10151338658586499_1559546508_n.jpgWow, have I come a long way... I went from the little nine year old boy next door who mowed a lawn... to a man who is serving my country and living out my dreams. I do not believe in simply "always wanting to do something" - I believe in DOING what you have always dreamed of doing. I am amazed eveytime i open the "my pictures" folder.. I see so many things.. a 48 state road trip... Aconcagua (the 2nd tallest of the 7 summits and summiting on xmas day), climbing the Grand Teton, the charity climb of Gannett peak for Big City Mountaineers - Summit for Someone, the Air Force, The Appalachain Trail, Caving, Skydiving, Rock Climbing, White water Rafting, Kayaking, Fishing, ADK Mountains, White Mountains, Graduation, and so on... I have nearly 30,000 pictures on my computer!!!! Wow. Now for the final question that people ask me? How did I do it? How have I found a way to do all these things... How can I afford it? Heck how the hell have I not broke something of got killed yet?!? I can tell you it was hard work, motivation, dedication, sacrifice.... but those are only factors.. really the true reason that I have been able to do all this is simple... its three letters that I will never forget... MOM. (The sappy part) She has always supported me and pushed me to do what I want in life. If I wanted it, I had to earn it. She did not finance my trips, I did. She taught me how to succeed and how to make choices. She taught me how to live. (ok sappy part is almost over). There have been a ton of people in my life who have been there with me through all times... My brother Bryan.. My best friends Jeff and Joe.... and George - a man that I am proud to say I knew, he was family to us, he taught me how to work hard and earn every dollar with pride (RIP George Owen). Take a minute and reflect on your life... where did you start.. where was your beginning? Where are you going? It was nice talking to you all again, I read every message and email that comes through, if i do not answer, its simple.. just email me again, I sometimes get busy here. Have a great day everyone!