Fixed Emotions
Augusta - Mile 0 - Mar 10th, 2017
The length of a minute does not change but time passed slower tonight. One last time for everybody to get together. Hamburgers on the grill, a few cocktails and lots of discussion of what's to come. The normal talk of the days activities quickly faded... is there anything I am worried about? Yes. There is a list of concerns. Most of them are worst case but - prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
I'm watching the weather and it's getting worse. Constant rain and lows around 20 starting out... is my rain gear adequate?
#1 - Hypothermia (you die from that!)
#2 - Ankle/foot injury (remember the torn ligaments you never had repaired)
#3 - Knee injury (remember the surgery you had)
#4 - Snakes (just 'cause I really don't like them and they sneak up on you)
#5 - Bears (just 'cause they are bigger, stronger and faster)
#6 - Mountain Lions - If they are really back, you'll never see what hit you
#7 - Moose - Do you know how big a moose is?
#8 - Walking off a mountain - my family thinks sending me a few cocktails along the way will help keep my spirits up
#9 - Intestinal issues - you can't imagine how much worse this is when you have to hike 10 more miles to the next not so bad spot.
#10 - Lightening - oh, go hide under the tree!
Enough already...
We could worry constantly or we could believe in our abilities... 10 feet tall and bullet proof! Sounds good anyway. Really though, when you hear the confidence others have in you, it makes it easier to visualize your success. Billy did that for me tonight. He said, "I really believe you're going to make it" and wants to be there in Maine just to watch me finish! YOU ALL DO THAT FOR ME! Sure I have concerns but, feeling/seeing/hearing the support I have from all of you... how could I consume myself with the what ifs. None of us should be held back by things we can't control. We are all capable of accomplishing more if we just believe - CARPE DIEM!
Five days until we depart.
MacGyver
Augusta - Mile 0 - Mar 10th, 2017