Date: 2003-02-28
To: LEAVING
Miles today: 0.0

Leaving on a midnight plane to Georgia...3/1/03: Drive to New York. Eat a lot with family. See sister onstage.3/2/03: Eat a lot with family. Fly to Atlanta, shuttle to Amicalola.3/3/03: Summit Springer. Instead of writing a usual entry, I decided to post a prayer for traveler. While I am still exploring how I feel about the idea of God, I like the focus and clarity that the act of praying brings.Tefilat Haderech: The Traveler's Prayer (Jewish)May it be Your will, our God and God of our ancestors,that you lead us toward peace, plant our feet toward peace and guide us in peace. May we arrive at our destination in safety and tranquility.May You rescue us from evil and harm along the way,and from all the afflictions that trouble the world.May you bless the work of our handsand bestow mercy and kindness upon us. May You hear our prayers. Blessed are You, God, who hears prayer.And here is one I composed myself:May the powers that be protect us in our journey. Deliver us from foul weather, hungry chipmunks, and foot rot. May there always be room in the shelter, water in the spring, and chocolate in our stuff sacks. May our blisters fade quickly,and may our duct tape never run out. Guide our feet in righteousness, and keep our rubber crampons on. May the rivers lower their banks to greet us,and the winds tame their roaring.Bless the AT Class of '03,and keep us from harm's way and giardia.Blessed art Thou, Whomever or Whatever Thou art,for keeping watch over a bunch of crazy hikers.In Arabic, there is a phrase "Insha'allah" which translates as "with Allah's will." Whenever Muslims say they are going to do something or something positive is going to happen in the future, they qualify it with "Insha'allah" to say that while this is what they forsee and hope to happen, our wills and desires do not control the world.Thank you to everyone who has been reading this journal, to all who sent gear and good wishes and trail name suggestions. (Sorry, Bomber, I think "Shorty" would only work if I had a partner named "Slim.") Who knows what the trail has in store for me...keep reading to find out.Insha'allah, I will be safe and healthy. Perhaps I will reach Katahdin. Surely, I will learn a lot about myself. I think that C.P Cavafy said it best in his poem "Ithaka":"When you set out for Ithakaask that your way be long,full of adventure, full of instruction.The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,angry Poseidon--do not fear them:such as these you will never findas long as your thought is lofty, as long as a rareemotion touch your spirit and your body.The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,angry Poseidon--you will not meet themunless you carry them in your soul,unless your soul raise them up before you.Ask that your way be long.At many a summer dawn to enter--with what gratitude, what joy--ports seen for the first time;to stop at Phoenician trading centres,and to buy good merchandise,mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,and sensuous perfumes of every kind,sensuous perfumes as lavishly as you can;to visit many Egyptian cities,to gather stores of knowledge from the learned.Have Ithaka aleays in your mind.Your arrival there is what you are destined for.But do not in the least hurry the journey.Better that it last for years,so that when you reach the island you are old,rich with all you have gained on the way,not expecting Ithaka to give you wealth.Ithaka gave you the splendid journey.Without her you would not have set out.She hasn't anything else to give you.And if you find her poor, Ithaka has not deceived you.So wise have you become, of such experience,that already you will have understood what these Ithakas mean."Signing off,Mimi