Written by: Emily “Lightning” Ginger
Prior to this I only had a small taste of what it’s like to be removed from civilization when I did a five day canoe trip with my family in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota. That experience opened my eyes and stirred my interest in being an outdoors woman. After 270 miles of hiking and living on the Appalachian Trail I feel accustomed to the lifestyle. I really enjoy the simplicity of things out here, I’ve totally downsized my life! It’s easier to have so few options for clothing to put on when I wake up in the morning, a lot of times I just wear whatever I slept in. I go for days without looking in a mirror, or brushing my hair, and I haven’t worn deodorant since we started. I enjoy having the low maintenance life. Being stripped of everyday amenities is grounding and really puts into perspective what really matters in life. All I really need to be happy is some clean water, food, and warmth. It’s beautiful to be happy just from pumping a liter of water from a stream and then drinking it. I don’t know what I will do with myself when I have to go back to the “real world.”
Glad you guys are having fun! I have to say that it seems, just from your most recent blogs, that you guys are totally different people from those who wrote the “about me” sections and those first 2 or so blogs. Much more down to earth…anyway, hope you guys continue to have fun, and good luck!
Such a pleasure to read your blog, Emily. There is something to be said about having a cool cup of water from a stream in the middle of the wilderness. Enjoy. Empty all thoughts from your head. Think only about what you see.
Open doors will be there when the “AT” ends; when you're ready; that's tomorrow, not today. Love today…..the other mom, Mrs. I.
I know what you mean about the simplicity. When you were coming up and we camped as a family, I LOVED doing the dishes: six forks, six plates, six cups, and a pot or two. The kitchen, so to speak, was cleaned up in a few minutes. At home, I let the dishes pile up because of the absurd number of dishes I have. I think I have 18 plates, all different colors of Fiestaware. RIDICULOUS! I don't bother washing; I just grab another plate, and another, and another….. Then, a stack of dishes and lack of a dishwasher makes the clean up take an hour. How stupid is that? Send some of that “live simply” energy your mother's way Em. Love you.
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I take that back. Glad you have become so aware of living simply, Nature has always brought me peace, groundedness, and a sense of being connected to everything!!! SAVOR EVERY PRECIOUS LIVING MOMENT ON THE TRAIL!!!