Date: 2006-04-14
To: Hiawassee Inn
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

17:00 hours - been doing my part ot support the local economy. Had breakfast and went to the Hiawasse clinic. Nurse practitioner Sue, checked my knee and didn't tell my anything I didn't already know. Rest, rest, rest. Can't tell if I will get worse or better. She could order an MRI, but wouldn't happen until Monday. If it is a torn ACL, only surgery would fix it....hmmm. Cried a bit in her office, broken dreams you know. Held back the sobbing until I made it outside. What to do, what to do. Got back to the Hiawasse Inn-firmary. Bunch of broken down hikers here, knees, achilles, backs. Apparently, George is pretty touch on our bodies. When I got back to the Inn, more hikers came rolling in. Lois and Misha are here, the Bently boys, as well as a bunch of new faces. Some of folks I hosteled with at Walasi-Yi are her too - not "Baggins" yet, wonder where she is...haha!Subway for lunch - I've been craving a nice turkey sandwich. There's a lady here who does in-home massage. I called her up and scheduled an hour of Swedish massage - only $35 , can you believe it?? Felt awesome, and she put some sort of liniment on my tender knee. Called Cari - she's dropping some food, misc items, and my trail shoes for me. Express Mail for SAturday or Sunday delivery. Going to cost a bunch, but the shoes and food are already money I've spent. Lots of people swear by their trail runner shoes. I hope it's easier on my knee than lifting 4 pound boots. It's funny to see hiking groups forming. I've not really been able to spend enough time with any one set of people to have that yet. No problem - just part of what's going on out here with me. So far Old Man and Sue the nurse have looked me in the eyes and said, "Something is going on with you" - wow, it shows, eh? On the plus side, I've now had three people guess my age as mid-thirties, not 43 - that's cool. Two more days of hanging around here to go. I plan to hike out on Monday. Hopefully, the rest and shoes will be good for my knee. If not, I really don't know what to do. I'm reading "Awaking the Buddha Within" by Lama Surya Das. It's a good read and I would recommend it to everyone. One thing that's been sticky with me is there are three primary reasons for dissatisfaction and unhappiness. They are known as the three poisons: 1.Ignorance of the truth, 2. Attachment, and 3. Aversion.Am I too attached to this hike? It's something I really WANT to do. I also feel it's something I need, but what do I know? Am I supposed to give up? Is there somewhere else I should be and don't know it yet? My plan "B" is to get in my car and travel around the country checking out music festivals, Merlefest, Bonnava, Telluride. I do know at some point I need to re-enter society and get a job. I asked Cari to look into schools for X-ray technician training - Chicago, Austin, and Denver. Unless of course, I'm supposed to be elsewhere, haha! I am going to check out an Easter service. It's been a loooong time since I stepped into a church, but Easter service at a Southern Baptist sounds rockin'. I am in the Bible belt, the library is closed for the whole weekend. (It's Good Friday) One of the doctor's office is closed today. WWJD? I dunno - take care of the sick? Help people learn? I know one thing, Jesus wouldn't drop bombs on and then accupy a foreign land without provocation. The church here has a sign that proclaims "We prayerfully support our troops and our president." Kind of goes contrary to my bumper sticker, "Why do so many Christians support war?" I've said it previously, I enjoy the world view I get from the non-Americans out here.