Date: 2008-10-21
To: Thank You's
Miles today: 0.0

Ok folks, I¢ve been living the life of just another jobless hiker now for almost 2 weeks (I can¢t believe it¢s been that long honestly). And as all of us who hike this trail should, because let¢s face it, none of us got where we did without a tremendous amount of help from others---this is my official thank you entry. Just FYI, the pics were taken the day after I summited. I¢m standing on Abol Bridge and that¢s Mt. Katahdin in the background (shrouded in clouds). Karen made all of my signs, as my handwriting is similar to that of a 7 year olds and my artistic ability is limited to stick figures and coloring outside of the lines.You all know my journey has been unique partially because I have this incredible group of people out there that cheered me on and it saddens me I won't meet 99% of you. But, I do plan on attending trail days in Damascus as often as possible, so look me up if any of you make it there too. I wish I could thank each of you face to face. And of course, you all could not follow along nor could I have shared this hike the way I did if it were not for Leif and Zipdrive, who created trailjournals.com Thanks guys so much for the work you do on this site. You're both doing a huge service to so many people who may never get to hike.This is for all of the unnamed individuals and groups that helped me out, and this includes the hard working trail crews and volunteers who keep this trail up and running. For all of you who picked me up hitchhiking, talked to me on the trail as our paths crossed, or gave me advice or information as I needed it. To all of our wonderful neighbors, Judy, Elizabeth M., Elizabeth S., Mary, Kris, and Jessica--this team of ladies made sure our boys, Henry and Hank were fed, watered and loved. The boys are, however....still ornery as ever and at this moment, Hank is in the bathroom knocking something off the shelf to get our attention, and Henry is snuggled up to my side sleeping as he seems to do about 23 hours a day. To my hanging buddy Bruce Smith, who made the awesome new suspension straps for my hammock. Bruce, your straps have stood the test of time, through every kind of weather and conditions, and because of their versatility, my camping options were even more endless than before.   All of the trees I hung from thank you too by the way. Of course I have to thank my hammock. So Persistent, I don't have a picture of me and my hammock on Katahdin, but this will serve always as my proof that I will NEVER go to the dark side and sleep on the ground. I will, however, exercise patience and wait for you to evolve and get up off that hard cold ground!! We ARE humans after all. To my mom, who through this whole ordeal has always been ready to jump in and take care of whatever I needed help with for the moment. You've never doubted me....ever....in all of my crazy exploits. Everybody needs that in life, and you've always given that to me. My friends Ann, Bill, and the big orange cat Opie. You all graciously took me into your home, fed me, and gave me my first cat therapy of the year. You are wonderful wonderful people and I appreciate your hospitality. And on a side note...Ann, you're absolutely right regarding the information about Tourettes. Thank you friend, for pointing that out to me, and my apologies for the oversight that not all people are affected in the same ways by Tourettes, so it isn't accurate to assume all sufferes have the uncontrollable cussing outbursts. (See folks...how that works? If we focus on understanding those that are different than us, it doesn't have to result in violence or hatred...hmmm....what a concept) Scribe, Gadget, Scott, and Eileen, who helped me out both last year and this year...wow. They have a business to run and when I showed up, they too put me up, fed me, and always jumped to action when I was ready to go, on top of all their responsibilities. Selfless people who love this trail. Oh Bad Influence, what a story that brought us into each others' spheres huh? So glad you didn't kick the bucket back in NY and then you turned around and housed me for a week, fed me, and of course...there's the infamous ride on your Harley. You have a pure and giving soul, and at the time you picked me up, I was hanging on by a thread. You made a huge difference. To my new good good friends Auntie Mame and V8, fellow hikers who understand all too well what it is like to have a hike end unexpectedly. But then neither of you gave up, you turned the focus to helping me out and after 5 weeks of not hiking...braved New Hampshire's White Mountains. No secret I was freaked out by them, and had been spiraling down a motivational hole for a while. When I needed help the most, when I needed to lean on someone else's hiking energy for a while, you were both there. It is a lifelong friendship we have forged, and I'm staying on your asses to get back out there and finish the trail for yourselves. I only hope I can serve a role for you that helped as much as you both helped me. Last but not least...my hiking soul sister Persistent (I can't take credit for the hilarious sign...Karen thought this up). What started as a random email to another wannabe AT hiker back in 2006, ended up as a friendship that formed through the beginning, saw the physcial split of our hikes, and then you came back to play a key role that only you could fill. What can I say? I never could have had the journal I wanted without you. You are amazing...truly. You ARE going to Trail Days with me next year right? So to ALL of you from 2007 and 2008 that were part of my journey...... I toast all of you and thank you from the bottom of my heart.......And a special thanks to Rachael, who put up with my endless obsession of the AT before I ever stepped foot on this trail. I have other post hike entries I want to put up in time, but I'm taking a break from the unceasing daily reporting on my life for a while. But to keep you all checking back, I'm going to talk about what the first few days of re-entry were like, and as that develops, I'll share more about this experience.   I'll be doing a full gear review, and I'm conducting a sort of interview with Karen about what it's like being the support person as well as what it was like to come out and hike after serving as support for so long. As always, I'd like to think the information I'm sharing will help others, so as I go through the reflection process, I'll share anything that seems worth sharing. If you're wondering why I don't have Karen on here...well...I'll be spending a lifetime trying to thank her for all that she did...which can't be quantified. Thanks again everyone.~CertainMy real life email is: michelezehr@gmail.comAnyone can feel free to email me. I will get back to you, but I ask for your patients, as sometimes it takes me a bit, but I will definitely respond.