Date: 2003-10-27
To: Two months later
Miles today: 0.0

A lot of people who had been reading my journal arrived at that last entry and waited, and waited, and waited some more. I summited Mt. Katahdin and... ?Well, it's two months later, and I finally have the motivation to return to this site and give some folks a little closure. After the hike, Toothpick, Trukin' and I headed south with my dad. We dropped off Trukin' in New Hampshire, and I took Toothpick with me for the first few days of a two-week break at my aunt and uncle's house in Southhampton, Mass. We visited Rob Bird while we were there, down in Dalton, which was cool. But mostly I just vegetated.After that, I went to New York, to my other aunt and uncle's lake house. Rough life I lead. I was even more of a bum. Except for one day when I was particularly motivated and biked twenty-four miles. Did a lot of laying in the sun, or on the couch, and reading. Drove home to Ohio with my brother, and visited all of my friends in Columbus before attempting a two-day bike ride home. I biked about another thirty miles before I quit, and have since swapped my bike seat for one with much more cushioning.And, as I promised, as soon as I got home, I turned in applications, and that brings me to now, a full two months later. I am happily employed at an outfitter in downtown Dayton, and I babysit and clean my Dad's house and take the dog for a walk in the spare time. It's hard, being back in this city. I don't know anyone, since most of my high school friends live elsewhere. And the people I meet... I don't know. It's not a hopeful place. People get worried when I walk to my car alone at night. They are shocked that I hitchhiked. They would never let their kids do what I have done. And they're more inclined to think that I am crazy or naive than consider that maybe I know what I am talking about. Maybe if they let me tell them about all of the strangers that took me into their homes, or people who gave me a ride, the woman who took the collar off her dog to give to Iwo, but most people don't have so much time for storytelling in the city. So I'm naive. And that's fine, and I really don't mind. But it's the reason I haven't made much effort to meet people. I have to struggle sometimes to regain my footing. I have to remember what I have learned. It's easy to get pulled back into consumer culture. I have to remind myself that all I really need is what I can carry on my back. And it's not all bad. I have begun writing creatively again. I have this affection I didn't know I had for kids and animals, because they are so much simpler than grown-ups. I get to see my cat every day. And I am near my brothers and Dad, and all of my friends in Columbus.The big changes? My knees haven't stopped hurting. That's the scariest one for me. I can run the faucet now, without thinking of the spare ounces down the drain that someone had to pump, but I can't drive my car without thinking about the petroleum it uses, and the people who die for that usage, so I am more homebound than before. I ride my bike and walk the dog instead of visiting metroparks. I haven't shaved my legs and I shower when I feel dirty, which is not every day. I am more comfortable in my skin, too, and I have learned to enjoy quiet time. I read more. And sit still a lot--something I don't remember doing before hiking. I'm content just to sit still, thinking or not, just staring off into space or into a coffee mug. I like these times a lot. This will probably not be my last entry. I don't think this stuff is over yet. But I figured I at least owed an update to all of the awesome people who have followed my journey along the way.Love and luck--