Back on the Horse

I’m not going to lie. I am going to be flat up honest. Through most of September and a good chunk of October, I felt that our hike was in jeopardy. Doubt crept into those weeks, days and hours. This doubt kept me from posting anything because to put it on paper (or in a Google doc) meant that I had to deal with it, and I just didn’t want to deal with it. I didn’t want to face it.

I tried not to. I let the doubt pass the best that I could and kept planning our trip. The good news is that by letting it pass, I have been able to see the good things that have happened. We have had a few emotional lifts. Most important is that Adam went back to his orthopedic surgeon. Right before we leave New Mexico in January, the doctor is going to give Adam two injections in his hip joint: A steroid and some “joint juice.” We aren’t quite sure what the outcome will be, but we are hopeful because the doctor is hopeful.

Additionally, we recently spent a couple of days in Yosemite National Park and completed some short hikes. Adam was so busy with work during August, September and October that we just didn’t get out much. He really wanted to set a foot on the John Muir Trail, so we made this happen. We weren’t prepared to hike a lot or do any long-distance stuff, but we were happy to hit a trial or two.

Hiking in Yosemite. Mount Whitney, anyone?

Another lift was attending a talk by Jennifer Pharr Davis at our neighborhood library. If you read my first post, you’ll know that reading her books gave me quite a bit of inspiration and a piece of the gumption that I needed to sign on to this crazy adventure. To have the chance to tell her was great and I started to cry when I told her our story. This uncharacteristic display of emotion (I am a laugher, not a crier.) was an indication to me that I really, really want this to happen and that I was starting to feel like it won’t.

We had another family member step forward with a wealth of support. She’ll not only be able to be our cheerleader, but will be able to pick us up in Pennsylvania and take us in for a couple of days of food, rest and a clothes washer and dryer. These are the kinds of lifts we need right now.

So we’re back and reinvested in our vision. We’re completing our gear list. I made a couple of purchases this week (fleece beanie and glove liners) and am compiling a list of what we need to buy next. Thanks to everyone who recently posted their 2015 lists. And an extra special thank you to Mellanie’s pie chart and list. I will use this as a guide to figuring out our own gear list and remaining needs.

The other list that I am working on includes the basics of shutting down life in New Mexico and transferring to a nomadic existence. Items on this list include moving someone else into our home, forwarding the mail, finding health insurance, etc., etc., etc. It’s this list that is now overwhelming. I just tell myself to try to complete one item a day…no matter how large or how small. Yesterday’s goal was having the tires on the car rotated before our big drive. And I’m happy to say that I was able to cross this off the list.

There’s just so much to do. I keep thinking of the question, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” I think that completing one item a day will get us there. Happy Thanksgiving.