[at-l] a sad hello again...

>
> I wanted to send you all this note to let you know that I am,
unfortunately off the trail
> right now.  Many of you have sent me letters of encouragement while I've
planned this over
> the past few years, and I thought I owed you all that.
>
> I never expected to be an early casualty, and indeed, it happened for a
reason that I
> never would have imagined.  I was only at the NOC having spent just two
weeks enjoying the
> incredible beauty and experience of the southern AT.  I did indeed have an
incredible
> time, and I will post my abbreviated journal and photos when I get a
chance - and you all
> lose along with me, because I wrote a lot.
>
> In one incredible day last week, I spent the sunrise in solitude with snow
showers and
> hail on Albert Mt, capped my afternoon with a spectacular battle with the
sun and wind on
> Siler bald, then watched the setting sun set the world afire from atop
Wayah Bald.  I
> already miss it.
>
> The reason for my departure is not physical - I was feeling wonderful.
>
> Rather, my girlfriend and soul-mate of the past five years, who I've lived
with for the
> past two, chose a rain-swept morning last week from the gravel parking lot
of the NOC to
> tell me that she had figured out in the time she had alone that she needed
to go somewhere
> new with her life, and that somewhere was not with me.  It was for me, a
complete and
> utter surprise.  I have still not yet accepted it, nor given up hope.
>
> Right now my heart is not on the trail.
>
> I don't want to bother you all with my personal troubles, but I wanted you
to know that I
> am off for now.  I also want you to know that the trail is alive out there
every day.
> Spring is fighting it's way out of the cold nights.  The Hiker Trash Tour
2000 is back in
> full swing.  There is a healthy amount of TP skepticism out there.  I
missed meeting Coosa
> by mere hours twice.  Gary and Lennie are serving wonderful breakfasts
every day at the
> Blueberry Patch.  Even Felix 'the published author's' name is turning up
noses.
>
> The trail is on the move.
>
> You have been some great friends over the past year, and if anyone has
been through
> something like this and have a few minutes to write, I'd really appreciate
it.
>
> Thanks, and peace.
>
> "Philly" Tom
>
>
>
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>
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>

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