Date: 2004-11-01
To: Boone
Miles today: 0.0

I stayed in the apartment healing for a few days, it was at least 6 days before my legs stopped hurting and I could walk right. I didn't tell anyone that i had quit. I just stayed in the apartment inside myself. I even called home a few times pretending I was in a trail town, because I was too ashamed to admit that I had quit, especially after being out for only 2 days after I started up again. Kristin told me I needed to go back to work. I knew I needed to too, but I still had some money left over from hiking and didn't want to yet. Finally, I drove home one day and told my parents that I quit. I could tell they were disappointed, especially because of the reason I gave. I didn't want to tell them that I quit for Kristin, so I said that i decided to leave because it wasn't fun anymore. Horseshit excuse, it was hella fun. I decided after getting back to Boone that a good transition to "normal" life would be to work at Scout Camp. So I packed up my things and went. This may seem strange that I left Kristin after quitting the Trail to be near her. It seems that although i wanted to be near her and was proposing I started resenting her for taking so much of my money, not supporting me while I was out there, for decideing to move to Charlotte, and for being the reason I quit. We didn't talk much during camp, I won't get into the end of our relationship too much, if you want to know, you can ask in person. We broke up about two weeks after camp, after she had moved. I had listed the galaxie in Car trader in order to buy a ring and sold it. With this money i moved into my new place, paid off my rent and rotted for a few months. Thats not to say that I didn't have fun. My new roomates are awesome and I intergrated into a new group of friends that are awesome. But I partied too much, thought about the past too often, and never got a job. A person can't be a person without a job, a challenge in life.    I met some great people that i would like to thank for their help. First off, my roomate Landon for introducing me to so many great people and being there when i needed someone to talk to- those awesome people include Nate- a guy who has hiked 3/4 the AT with his dog Dee and Audrey a wonderful caring person who always listens to my bitching and calls me out when I'm doing it for attention.Also I met a few new people in the Rec management department who have helped me. Dave and Abby, Dave for being there and helping at my inevitable breakdown and Abby for going walking and talking with me, and always coming over to my shindigs. Also there is Laura Pate, a teacher I had at ASU who came on my Outdoor Leadership class' trip to the highlands, which promted my breakdown. Fianlly I would like to thank Liz Frye who has shown me how wonderful and caring one person can be for another-infinite love.    Finally I would like to apologize to all the people that I lied to about how far I went, I wasn't ready to tell anyone of what I thought of as a disgraceful distance. If you read this, the next time we talk, tell me you know the truth so I don't have to pretend anymore.    I have a job now and plan on hiking and finishing when I can. I will talk about things I'll do differently in later journals. Stay tuned.