Date: 2008-10-08
From: Roswell, GA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Apologies to all interested as I have been just a bit delayed in posting my promised post-trail entries. It has been almost 7 weeks since I was on the summit of Katahdin and in many ways it seems much longer. What I hope to do is get everyone caught up on what has been going on for me post-trail and what my future plans are. Subsequently, I will post a 'gear geek' update to evaluate what worked for me and what didn't. I found these types of postings very helpful in planning my hike and I feel the need to pay it forward. Lastly, I would like to provide a bit of an epilogue on some of the great people I have met on the trail. The last several weeks have been a whirlwind of getting reacquainted with friends and family and it has really been a bit overwhelming. After we left Maine, the General, my Dad and I drove back to Atlanta with stopovers in Boston (to visit my friends Tim and Rae) and Baltimore (staying the night with my brother, his wife Dawn and family). The General's plane ticket didn't have him leaving the ATL until 8/29 so we hung out and partied like rock stars (read took lots of naps)for a few days. Seeing the General off was sad; we had spent almost every day together for the better part of 3 months and he always had my back. I miss the hairy bastard.Michelle and I had a busy September. We visited her brother and sister-in-law at their lake house in Ohio, my parents evacuated to ATL from New Orleans for the weekend and we welcomed her family to our home for the celebration of their 50th anniversary. In the midst of this, I was dealing with the not uncommon phenomenon of 'post trail depression.' I think for me it was largely physiological as I just wasn't getting the endorphin rush everyday that I had become accustomed to getting. That was part of it; I also missed my friends. I have largely gotten over the melancholy in good order with lots of email and plenty of time in the gym. Other than the fact that my golf game went completely into the crapper I am feeling great! I don't have any clothes as I lost more than 6 inches off my waistline, but I feel good. When I got home, I looked at my closet and realized that I had 14 belts. What the hell do I need with 14 belts? In particular, 14 belts that don't fit. So I did the logical thing; I gave all my clothes to someone that fit into them. Makes for a much leaner looking closet. I didn't go all 'Into the Wild' or anything, I just don't plan on being that size again in the near future and the clothes were collecting dust. The hike has given me a different perspective on consumerism, I hope, and one just doesn't really need 14 belts. After spending 5 months with 2 sets of clothes (a wet set and a dry set), I feel like I have a different view of what it is that I want and what it is that I need. I currently have 1 pair of jeans, 1 pair of khakis and 1 pair of shorts. Until I go back to work, I really can't see how I need more.Well, there is the little issue of getting a job. The timing couldn't have been worse, economically speaking, but as the General says, the 'jolly boy' account is getting low and it is time to get back to work. So that is pretty much what I am currently doing; looking for a job. The crazy part is that I don't mean that in a negative way whatsoever. I miss the camaraderie of the job and am actually looking forward to getting back. I think the trail has given both Michell and I some perspective and doing the things we need to do now and not waiting for 'someday.' That might mean relocation (we both love the West Coast) but it will certainly mean more traveling and more experiencing people and things. Carpe Diem. Ok, I owe a gear breakdown and an epilogue and they are coming...I promise.