Date: 2006-04-12
To: The Engagement
Miles today: 0.0

And just like that we were transported from the serenity of the woods to the hustle-and-bustle of society. The commonplace sounds of the modern world ¢ car horns, gyrating music, cell-phone rings, and the ever-present drone of the TV -- were imposed mercilessly upon our sensitive trail ears. Some of these impositions had seemed manageable during our short interludes in town while hiking, but living 24/7 in this non-stop environment was mind-boggling. Driving through intersections seemed positively dangerous. The ability to order food at any hour of any day seemed downright sinful. And showering every day seemed positively ridiculous. For the first couple weeks we mourned the trail. Thoughts of hiking and being in the woods were ever-present in our minds. As much as we hated it, our lives had to move on. I spent time tending to my treasonous feet ¢ trips to the doctor, night casts, painkillers, stretches¢¦ Meanwhile I found out I had mono and had been hiking with it for quite some time. The irony that I could hike through mono but not foot pain did not escape me. Gradually we became re-accustomed to life in society and we succumbed to the pressure to find jobs and figure out the next phase of our lives. Souleman returned to his job at the Recreation Department and I spent hours upon hours searching for any job for which I was qualified. Some places told me I was overqualified while others suggested I needed to be more experienced. It seemed unfair that my degree rendered me too skilled for some places and untrained enough for others. How do you get trained if no one will hire you? Sigh! I detest being idle and being out of school and without a job was stressful and numbingly boring. On top of the stresses of finding work I was missing Souleman terribly. Going from non-stop companionship to weeks alone was unnerving. We had met under the most unusual circumstances and were used to being able to communicate at any moment we felt so inclined. Being hundreds of miles and a couple states apart was not fun. We visited as often as possible and started brainstorming ways to be closer together.In late August I moved up to Vermont and took a job as a one-year-old teacher. Souleman and I were able to spend infinitely more time together living in the same state and I finally had a way to occupy my days and earn me some income. As the leaves began to change and flutter down off the trees we tentatively tried a couple short hikes. My feet still hurt, but I was determined to train them to hike again. In late September we were driving to visit my parents when Souleman suggested we stop by the AT to ¢check out the foliage.¢ That seemed a little odd since it was nearing dusk, but since I am always up for visiting the trail I veered off the road and jumped out of the car. We walked hand-in-hand down the trail in the fading light reminiscing about our previous hike. Shortly we reached a bridge over a brook and stopped in the middle to watch the water tumbling by below. He released my hand and dropped down on one knee. He told me (much more eloquently than I will relay) how our relationship had started on the trail and he thought there was no more perfect place to ask me to be his wife.