from Kristen in Frostburg: "Unexplained Absence"

Because this is about Thru-Hiking - not about blindsiding by my wreck of a personal life, not about emotional trauma, not about a mad scramble to reconfigure my personal affairs in record time - you wont be getting the rationale' here for why I haven't written anything in a whole month, 2 weeks before my departure no less.

I'm skipping the details. It was bad enough the first time. (and no matter how bad life gets, it can always get worse). In short, I'm all the more eager to go.

I will, however, say thanks to Minneapolis and Kansas City for a much needed shot in the arm. (To the literalist: this references resident friends. Pardon the artistic license.)

And, yes... it's just 2 WEEKS AWAY!!