About a week and a half ago, I turned 40. Birthday celebrations have morphed into good-bye celebrations (we leave in less than two weeks), and in the past 10 days we've spent more time with our friends and family than we normally would in three months.
It's been wonderful.
Packing up our respective apartments has underlined the reality of what we're leaving behind materially. Enjoying time with our loved ones has done the same for our community and connections. Have absolutely no doubt: We will miss you.
Not just when we're soggy and chilled and dreaming about Mama Hart's cooking and Joy's cozy wood stove. We'll miss you when we hike a stretch of smooth trail and I want to run it with the Ultra Babes. Or or when Shiz sees a perfect downhill and thinks about mountain biking (#ExtremeDads). Or when we read something cool and know just who would love it...but are 3 days from internet connection. Yes, we will miss you.
We'll meet interesting characters along the trail - and we're really looking forward to that side of the journey - but nothing is quite the same as our home community. It's sad to think about how little direct contact we'll have over the next 6 months and how much we'll miss in our friends' and families' lives. On the other hand, the past 10 days have affirmed what a diverse, supportive, kind network we have to return to.
Thank you so much for your support and celebration of our adventure. We're really looking forward to sharing it with you on this blog. Never hesitate to leave us a comment. We'll need to hear from you.
Sweet Pea
Picture: Nothing has symbolized community more for me than the 100-on-100 relay. A day of running and friendship with an unbeatable team and gorgeous Vermont scenery. This picture is a throwback to 2013.