Date: 2014-02-23
From: Still at home

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

I must admit that it was bitter / sweet Friday when I cleaned out my locker. I had thought I would work there till I retired, but I guess God has other plans. I completed my notice, actually an extra month at the request of my supervisor, and the group brought in my favorite cake with "Best Wishes Frank" on it. Many people who had been there when I came, and who I had known for decades came and said there goodbyes, wished me well, and shared how they hated that I was leaving. It felt good to know that those friends where indeed friends. It's still difficult for everyone to believe that I have no job to go to, and that I have no real concrete plans for the future. I guess it just goes against the grain when you just up and quit your job, for no good reason (not exactly true), and have no where you plan to go. Some people know that I have been unhappy there for a long time, but I'm sure many had no idea. The truth is that I just finally came to grips with the fact that things were not going to change, and that maybe I had to reach a level of uncomfortableness that would eventually send me seeking the next phase of my life. So it begins.I have shared with a few that I plan to return to the Trail to finish what I started there in 2010. Most were supportive, and some I'm sure wondering why I would do that, but it's the only thing that makes any sense at this point in my life. They can not beleive that I am going to start over at the beginning and do the first 463 miles over again, but I am. I still very much want to be a "Thru-Hiker". I suppose it only really makes sense to me, and about 12,000 other people who have come before me. So, I'll just start in Georgia again and see where the Trail takes me. I think its "North"!I still have to post some new gear, but for the most part it's the same as it was in 2010, with the exception of a few things. I also need to start making journal entries more often too. Just a little out of practice I guess. But soon it will be time to start hiking, only two weeks, and then the Blog will be my only contact with friends and family for a while. I enjoyed journaling last time so if one of the "youngsters" out there can tutor me I may even learn how to post movies as well.I have enjoyed reading the journals already posted and must admit I have smiled at some of the things the first timers have written. I look forward to watching people go from City Slicker to Hiker in those first few months, talking people into lightening their loads, just as others did for me, and listening to all the stories that people have from before the Trail, and of course, of the Trail. I must also admit that I have prayed for a little snow too. I wasn't quite specific enough in 2010, but this time I was very specific and prayed for a max of 4 inches at any one time. We'll see what God thinks about that. Given that a day in God's life may be very different than a day in ours, I sure hope His ruler is the same as ours. If it gets to bad, I'll just hold up in town somewhere, and when it clears enough to hike I'll start hiking again. Didn't quite understand that in 2010. Many lessons were learned before, some were hard lessons, some were good lessons, and some were lifes lessons. I hope there are lots of all three this time too.He went out, not knowing where he was going.