Date: 2006-08-21
To: Spilling the Beans
Miles today: 0.0

So, I just recently started telling my friends and family that I'm going to thru-hike next year. The process of explaining it to people is entertaining and nerve-racking at the same time. There have been many expressions of disbelief, several people have told me I'm crazy and, of course, much concern from my parents. Here are some of my favorite (paraphrased in some cases) responses to my news:From my mom... Me: I am going to hike the Appalachian Trail.Mom: Where did you come from? Where do you get these ideas? Where do you walk, on sidewalks?Me: No, there¢s a trail through the woods from Georgia to Maine.Mom: Oh, I'm sure. Me: No, really. People built it and lots of people do this.Mom: Where do you get these ideas?From my dad...Me: I¢m going to go hiking for six months.Dad: Over my dead body.Mom: She assures me that lots of people do this every year.Dad: Not people who have dads like me. You¢re not allowed to go.Me: Funny, I don¢t remember it being a question.Dad: I know. You¢re trying to hustle me by not even asking.From my sister...Me: I told Mom and Dad that I¢m going to hike the Appalachian Trail and dad told me I wasn¢t allowed.Stef: I don¢t even know where that is. Me: It¢s a trail from Georgia to Maine that¢s about 2,000 miles long.Stef: WHAT!?Me: It¢ll take about six monthsStef : That's like half a year. And you're just gonna go hiking?What's going on?...Well...(insert the sound of disbelief here ¢ sounds like a disgusted ¢uh¢)...laughter¢¦.ALLL RIIIGHT. Holy crap. HOLY CRAP! And you're gonna carry all that stuff yourself? How are you gonna do that? What are you gonna do for money? I feel like I¢m being Punk¢d.Me: You¢re not being Punk¢dStef: Good. Cause I¢m on my couch in my underwear. From my friend and old roommate, Paula:Paula: Way to run away from everything.Me: I don¢t like to think of it so much as ¢¦Paula (cuts me off): Hiking away! Walking away slowly! Me: ¢¦running away as accomplishing a goal.   and then a few weeks later, we're talking about it again:Paula: What will you do if there are rabid dogs? Me: What will I do if I see a bear? Paula: How will we keep in touch? You¢re just not gonna talk to anyone for six months?Me: No, I will. I will probably have access to the internet in towns once a week or something like that. And they have phones too.Paula: This is insanity. I just want you to know this is very selfish of you.From my friend and old roommate, Lindsey:Lindsey: Will you be in my wedding in August? It¢s August 11.Me: Of course! I would love to be in your wedding. Can I be the flower girl? Oh, and just so you know, there¢s a chance I might be hiking the Appalachian Trail at that time. Lindsey: Oh, will you come home?Me: Of course. But I just wanted to let you know.Lindsey: Good. You¢ve wanted to do this for a while, good for you.From my friend and old roommate, Shannon:Shannon: That's crazy! You should totally do it. How long is it?Me: About 2,175 miles. It's probably going to take around six months.Shannon: Do people run it? I wonder how long it would take someone to run it.Me: I have no desire to run it, Shannon.Shannon: Maybe I could run it while you walk.Me: Okay. Shannon: You have to do it. This is like your dream. You have to do it.From my coworker, Jeff:Jeff: But, you basically appear pretty normal. You dress decent and it seems like you are pretty clean usually. Do you really want to be that dirty? Isn¢t there something more productive you can do with six months? Think of the all of the other things you can do in six months. You really want to just go for a walk across the country?Me: Yep, I really do.Jeff: Who are you, Forrest Gump?From another coworker, Angela:Angela: Are you going somewhere in particular?Me: Well, I'd like to. I'd like to hike the Appalachian Trail. But, like I said, it's not set in stone yet.Angela: By yourself?Me: For the most part. Eric might be with me during the summer.Angela: You are the coolest person I know.Random:Me: I¢m looking for the Appalachian Trail DatabookGirl at Barnes and Noble Cash Register: Okay...        Searching¢¦searching¢¦searchingGirl at Barnes and Noble Cash Register: The Appalachian Train?