February 21, 2018
My first day of “(f)unemployment” was busy with prep for the journey. It felt good to be able to focus and knock things off the list. I also had time to reflect on things thus far and the kindness of others. My team at work pooled together and gave me a lovely card and a going away gift, which quite thoughtfully included a deck of “don’t die out there” playing cards! Awesome…and sage advice indeed! That is certainly one of my goals. The gift and sentiments expressed were so thoughtful and made me emotional, thinking of all that we had been through, the thick and the thin, as a team. They are incredible folks and I was lucky to work with them.
This got me thinking about trail magic. On the trail, trail magic is the random acts of kindness that strangers do for folks on the trail. For example, my wife and I hiked a section of the AT through the Roan Highlands last year and came across some bottles of water and a sign that a Boy Scout troop had left for hikers in the trail. Sometimes trail magic is food; sometimes it is a ride somewhere. It’s the completely selfless acts of kindness that can otherwise sometimes feel rather rare in the world today. And yet before the trek has even started, I have already begun to see and experience trail magic! The first instance was my local gym, LivFitness, here in Atlanta. When the owner, Jason, found out I was preparing for a thru hike, he did something incredibly nice for me that, quite honestly, he didn’t have to do. I can’t help but think that the trail brings out the best in people. It teaches us by magical example. It allows us to feel the presence of something bigger than us. I really look forward to learning what I can from the trail magic I am sure I will encounter along the way.
Time to hit the hay. Tomorrow will be full of prep and hopefully pack weight check! I fear the poundage!!
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