Re: [at-l] Post Trail...

["Nestor L. Reyes" <nreyes@lonestar.jpl.utsa.edu>]

Magaroni,

Sorry hear about your misfortune. So as not to exacerbate your situation:

1. Drive extra carefully (to CO) when pulling a trailer.
2. Invest in a set of pots and pots, and learn how to cook: Ramen, mac' 
cheese are not the best food stuffs (lots of salt). Pasta is good if you 
use fresh ingredients.
3. College is a good life-changing experience if you're ready for it. If 
you're not ready for it, consider vocational/trade school. 
4. If you do incur a massive college-loan debt, pay it off as soon as you 
can. Debt is a dream-killer.
5. If you work for 7-11, avoid the late shift. If you have to work the 
late shift, pack a gun, learn how to use it, but don't tell your 
supervisor. It might save your life. Unlike the AT, midnight shift in a 
7-11 store is scary.

I say these in all sincerity. 

Best of luck, and congratulations on your having hiked the AT. 


On Fri, 2 Apr 1999 pmags@juno.com wrote:

> 
> 
> >I'm curious what the Class of 98ers are doing now.  How did the Trail 
> >change >your life  Are you doing something now that is different than
> what 
> >you >expected before your hike?  
> 
> 
>  Phew..my computer is down for almost two weeks, I come back and find 898
> e-mails between the two lists..sheesh! Doesn't anyone hike out there? :P
> 
> 
> 
>   The trail did not so change my life, but it made me flexible enough to
> deal with the changes waiting for me at home that DID change my life.   
> 
> The first of August, I summited the Big K.  Beautfiul day, completing a
> dream I have had for a while.  My buddies were there, friends from the
> trail, my youngest brother..all celebrating a very important day for me. 
>     August 2nd, somewhere in Maine on I95..heading back to my home in
> Rhode Island: the car gets very quiet, my brother says "Paul, there is
> something I have to tell you...while you were away this past year our
> parents divorced, the house was sold".. (And to really make this a bad
> country music song!)  "the dog was put to sleep".   Was a bit stunned to
> say the least.  When I arrived at home, the house was empty of all
> furniture (except for my bed, and my brother's), all my belongings were
> in cardboard boxes. There was a FOR SALE sign on the front lawn, with a
> big SOLD sign on top of that.   I also found out I had less than three
> weeks to find out where the heck I was going to live. 
>    Adjusting from the trail to the real world is always a task, but these
> turn of events made things a bit more interesting, to put it mildly. 
> Starting the second day  I was back in Rhody,  dear ole Dad asked "Did
> you rent a U-haul yet". Hey..glad to see you too! Sure missed you guys
> when I was in the woods for five months..really glad I can be back
> home.....
>  The day I moved out, it was not my family that helped me but my buddies.
> Kind of symbolic of most of my (admittedly brief) adult life.   
> 
>     Now what am I doing different now?  Leaving Rhody.  Time for a
> change.....  So    I am again packing up a U-Haul and moving to Ft.
> Collins, CO  on August 1st (it is a day I am partial to now..).  A buddy
> of mine I have known since first grade will be going for the road trip. 
>      Will be attending CSU, living on student loans, and will be eating a
> diet consisting  of Ramen, mac' cheese, and other types of pasta.  Be
> like hiking, except there will be beer in a fridge and I will shower more
> than once a week! :D  Will be getting a completely useful degree in
> history.. ;),....maybe I'll be a very educated cashier  employed at 7-11.
> Could be fun......
> Could tell the story behind big gulps..
>   
> 
>  
> Magaroni...venting a little bit....
> 
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> 
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