Day 10: Radio Silent

Michael is at an altitude of 4962.46. That doesn’t mean much to me, but everyone else in the car kind of oohed and wowed when we discovered his Shapchat photos. All I could think of was “HE’S SLEEPING ON TYVEK PAPER!” Last I’d heard from […]

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Day 5: Never the Same

It’s just now occurring to me that Michael may look and sound very different next time I see him. That makes me happy and sad at the same time, in that confounding way that only grown ups who love children can understand. Because you know […]

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The Transition

I don’t think I can be too creative today, but I am so grateful for the community that has formed around us, I need to let everyone know that all is good. Very good. Michael has landed in San Diego and I am at my […]

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Here We Are.

Well. We’ve arrived at the point I knew would come sooner than I’d like. And of course, it did. But I’m ready. Michael has been ready for weeks. Oh, there have been a few last-minute changes and unplanned trips to REi and a mad dash yesterday […]

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The Final Stretch

Michael’s dad came from Connecticut to visit him this weekend. It was a perfect way to start his last week of preparation before leaving on Friday. I credit his dad with fostering in Michael his love of the outdoors and his spirit of adventure and […]

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Home Safely, Round One

Because so many of you are asking….a quick post to say Michael arrived home last night about 10:45, having completed his test hike and wearing pretty much everything he’d packed. Here’s a few highlights: It rained the whole time. He’d lined his backpack with a trash […]

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Day 28: The Art of Distraction

There’s a fundamental difference between avoidance and distraction. Avoidance implies a state of anxiety whereas distraction connotes a sense of relief. A purposeful carefreeness. The past two days have been ones of delightful distraction. When you move to Texas at the age of 50, its a safe bet […]

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30 Days and Counting

One month from today, my son leaves to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. Those are words I never thought I’d say. I don’t even like journeying too far into the backyard. Yet somehow I raised a son who thinks its very reasonable to pile everything he […]

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