Date: 2018-11-10
To: Asheville NC
Miles today: 0.0

I've been home for a month...it seams like a minute. But the rest and recovery was real and needed. I have the most wonderful husband. Brian tended to me daily for the first week when I was so weak that I'd have to rest on the bed between showering and drying my hair. He endlessly filled my desires for craved foods usual to me but requested by my body and together we filled it's needs one spoon at a time. Day by day I gained strength and ate more, walked with him (when I had the strength and the rain stopped). I worked at the office part time over the last couple of weeks and helped him cut back the gardens at the office for winter alternating with 6 mile walks from home to office and back. Doing more each day. I regained my strength and after losing another 2.5 lbs my 1st week home I've gained them back. I've changed some of my supplements, some temporary and some permanent. I said a final fairwell to my beautiful cousin of just 54 years young and taken from us so quickly. And another final fairwell to a friend of just 60 who struggled for years with a heart condition. I'm glad I was home for them and I renewed my spirit in the company of loved ones both family and friends. There were so many people I didn't get to see this trip home but I'll see them soon. Yesterday our cat Billy was very Ill. Being an insulin dependent diabetic his condition required our full attention and overnight we took turns checking on him. He spent almost 2 hours at the vet today with Brian while I made sure I had all my gear in order. Yes, that's right. I'm flying out this afternoon and I'll be back on trail tomorrow. I'm excited but it was harder to leave Brian this time knowing he has extra burdens to shoulder with Billy's medical needs. And of course if it snows I won't be there to shovel for him when he plows. But he left me at the airport with a tight squeeze and a huge smile on his face. He understands me. He understands this is that important to me. What an amazing man!I've watched the sun dance on the last color hanging by threads from the trees as we pass by on the highway, looking at the rolling hills and how small they look compared to what I've climbed. I longed to be back on trail with the ground pounding beneath my feet and the scents of the forest. Today I watched the last of the oak leaves give up and let go in the wind. As we became cloaked in the gray November sky which spit snow in an attempt to remind me what I'll be missing I day dreamed of sunny skies that hopefully will greet me in North Carolina. I'll be meeting WE and her wife at the airport tonight. They have a camper and Lee is slackpacking WE all she can and I'm fortunate enough to be included. I'm looking forward to a soak in Hot Springs and summiting Springer Mountain with WE. It will leave me a section from James River to wherever I start up with WE tomorrow and what I can't finish this calendar year I will finish before April 30, 2019 to claim my thru hiker title, God willing. So they're calling us to board now. And I'm dreaming of being "on the trail again, I just can't wait to be on the trail again".Thank you for all of your support, all of your lovely messages in my guest book! I'm looking forward to finishing this journey with you!