Date: 2016-01-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Today...THIS happened.I drove an eighth of a mile home from my neighbor's house, where I've been working, to pee, and found THIS. A box of chocolates.A big box of chocolates.A big box of FANCY chocolates.SERIOUSLY FANCY. ONE OF THEM IS SHINY. SHINY! LIKE IT WAS DUSTED WITH PEARL DUST.SIDE STORY: (This is dangerous to post since I live in a small town, but what they heck, I have done worse...)For old time's sake, here's a bathroom story. My neighbor has gutted the house he's working on and is fixing it up. It needs a lot of fixing. At this point, there's no plumbing (just one hose).So if I have to pee... well, there's nowhere to pee.Perhaps because of my barbarian vagabond AT summer, my first inclination is to pee outside. Yesterday, I had to pee SO BADLY. My neighbor boss was working with some loud dangerous power tool, and it was like... emergency bladder time. Rather than try to get his attention and inquire as to what he would like me to do with my urine, I went outside to pee. Quickly. In the cold. On the edge of the lawn.IT HAD TO BE DONE.But today I felt kind of guilty for peeing on the lawn, and asked him what the proper procedure should be. He told me to drive home. I AM A TERRIBLE NEIGHBOR EMPLOYEE LAWN PEE-ER.Dang it. Also I am pretty sure I peed right in sight of a plow truck coming down the road. Jeez. There is so rarely traffic on my road. JUST MY LUCK.Anyway, urination story over... back to the more important part.The chocolate. Chocolate.I wish I could live on chocolate. I might be addicted.This box of chocolates is hands-down one of the kindest, most amazing gifts I have ever received. I can't imagine how much a box of chocolates like this costs. They are the most exquisite (like my syntax? That is a premium word, and an understatement at that) chocolates that I have ever possessed. I am afraid to eat them. I am kind of afraid to even touch them.And, even more, the words. The kinds of words that I really need. I WANT TO CLIMB MOUNTAINS. I need to climb mountains. I think the trail has stirred me up for good. I feel like a fidgety child, never content to settle.I want a dream! I want something to pursue! I know I'll find it. For so long, I had Katahdin to dream of, to strive for, to imagine summiting. I pictured slapping my sweaty gross hands down on that worn wooden sign. That was the ultimate goal, the culmination of 2,189 miles of numb toes and scratched legs.Now I am missing my Katahdin. Life has presented another mountain to climb, but I haven't quite determined which peak I am aiming for yet. But I will.This box didn't come with a signature. No name. The sender is a mystery. I do have my suspicions... but that's all they are.This is the kind of thing that makes a girl cry. It's like a box of trail magic Pringles at the bottom of the Priest. It's like getting a hitch without even having to stick out your thumb.It's like a much-needed smack in the face as life screams at you, "SEE?! YOUR LIFE IS STILL FREAKING AWESOME. YOU ARE STILL THE LUCKIEST GIRL EVER. SUCK IT UP AND TRY HARDER. NOTHING CHANGES IF YOU DON'T MAKE IT CHANGE."I need that slap in the face like a bazillion times a day.So thank you, kind stranger. Thank you for giving me hope. Thank you for giving me a reminder of the amazing journeys in my past, and those that I have yet to make.I am thankful for a reminder, for that feeling you get when you realize that to someone, you are different. I am thankful for all of the people around me who remind me to calm down, and be patient, and to keep trying. I am thankful for my health and life and days growing longer. Spring will come again, and so will happiness.