The other day a Bradenton friend called and asked if I wanted to grab lunch. While my normal answer would be a resounding yes, especially since the invitation involved Chipotle, I had to inform him that I no longer live in Bradenton…that, in fact, I am about as far away as I can possibly get without leaving the continental United States. It made me realize that, unless I have seen you in person, I have done a poor job of keeping the people in my life updated.
So here’s a quick summary: Last week I moved across the country to start pursuing a master’s degree in counseling psychology at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. I actually started the application the day that I decided to end my hike, at a hotel somewhere in Pennsylvania, thinking that I was applying for the fall of 2015. When I found out that it wasn’t too late to apply for this fall, I flew out to Seattle for an interview, and before I knew it I was packing my car and moving across the country. Today was our official orientation, and now I am in the middle of all the things associated with a new chapter in life: new friends, a new home, new routines, new weather, new everything.
I was planning to write about the 30-something states I visited between that hotel in Pennsylvania and my new home in Seattle…about the cabin in Vermont, the tugboat in Minnesota, the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island, the perfect couple of weeks I got to spend at home with my family and closest friends before we parted ways and started new chapters in life.
But I think instead I’ll just bring this blog into the present, where I am sitting in the basement of my new home in Seattle’s Magnolia district, unwinding from orientation and preparing for my first full day as a graduate student tomorrow. I’ll say that I am thrilled and terrified to be here, and I’ll apologize to those of you I didn’t get to see after I got off the trail. See you in December?
In the meantime, I’ll plan to write here about what I am learning and how I am adapting to life in a new city. It’s no trail journal, but I guess it’s an adventure of a different sort, yeah?
As always, thanks for reading.
Water Tower Graffiti 
It will be great to hear all about this new adventure! I still want to hear about the trip with the siblings!! You will do great, and you will be so glad you did it!
I think the people should also know that you shaved your beard… Happy new season, thanks for blogging. Love you.
Hi – I’m a stranger who happened upon your site after googling ‘how to graffiti a water tower’. I still don’t know how but I’m glad to read about your adventures! I’m at work so will get back to it but I’m going to check up on what you get up to. Why was I googling about graffiti? I’m putting the finishing touches on a novel I’m writing and just added a chapter about spidering a tower. I want to know all about your adventure on the Appalachian Trail. I read A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson and always wanted to do that trail. I’m totally terrified of bears though! Now I live with my husband in Labrador which is a real adventure anyway. Later! Hope you are still having fun at school.