Date: 2006-02-03
To: Good bye Massachusetts
Miles today: 0.0

Portland has been my official home now for three days. Got the last of my stuff packed up and moved out. Pretty stressed and trying to figure out how to see everyone before I left. . Housemate Doug made it easier for me. He said there was no reason to go crazy trying to fit everyone in. People know what I¢m doing, that I¢m busy and that time was short. After that I relaxed and went with the flow.Friday nightI had dinner with two friends, one old and one more recent. I picked up Pat, my college roommate at his place and headed across town to meet Scott, climbing friend. Doug didn¢t go, bad day at work. I told Pat not to be surprised, that Scott would be calling me Boulder. I explained the origin of the name and the trail name tradition. We¢ve known each other for over twenty years. DAMN, that long? Back then I was a chain-smoking, TV-addicted, relatively dirty dog. I never seemed like the running, rock climbing, trail-hiking type. It was time for change. When we got to the restaurant, true to form, Scott was there with a great book about emergency wilderness medicine. We looked up good stuff like Lyme disease, hanta virus, rabies and snakebite. And he called me boulder. We¢ll try for at least one more climbing night. I¢m passing off my gear to him so he can throw together a climbing weekend when I get to Rumney, NH unless I¢m completely torn, worn and broken.Saturday nightBrother Mark and nieces Emily and Haley invited me to a grammar school father-daughter dance, uncles and godfathers welcome. Hate to say it, but I dragged my feet a little. I said I might have other plans, that Andrew was expecting me in Maine, that I didn¢t have any formal clothes with me. Because I wasn¢t going to see those girls for quite a while, I changed my mind. Glad I did. Had a great time. We danced just about every dance. Mark and I got Emily and Haley, usually a little shy, out on the floor. I led both nieces and taught both of them to dip. Then I let them lead and dip me. Then the Macarena. A hundred little girls and me. I¢m sure the fathers were all nice guys, but a bunch of stiffs. Afterwards I said to Mark, ¢Gee, can you pick out the gay uncle?¢Tuesday morningI had my final breakfast at Annie¢s Clark Brunch with Jess, the Schooligan who will transcribe the journal. Had spicy hash that makes you eyes water. As usual, we read the horoscopes and Dear Annie's answer to a letter from a Boston woman with herpes. A weekly ritual I¢ll miss.Tuesday afternoon, last day of workThey planned a party. We had lunch in the library and then gifts. I expected something, but damn they were generous. First they gave me a $100 gift card for REI. Great, another pair of boots! Then the surprise. Six coworkers, all knitters, made me a scarf for the trail. A patchwork scarf, a scarf of many colors. Ten squares stitched together and crocheted around the edges. The director¢s square had a picture of a hiker and said ¢God speed John¢. I teared up. Something personal for the trail. Other folks dropped in from campus. Cake, cookies, and lots of well-wishing. A great sendoff and greatly appreciated. End of the day I started the car and headed for Maine.