Farewell Parties

[Jack Tarlin]

Coralrives said it best: Both the hikers AND their loved ones should have realistic expectations about the upcoming trip.

But calling it an "I'm going away for awhile party and it'd be nice to see you before I go" is exactly the right attitude.

[Blissful]

Coralrives said it best: Both the hikers AND their loved ones should have realistic expectations about the upcoming trip.

Mine do. Many think I'm crazy but they want me to pursue me dream. A few others are jealous and want to come along. And my parents think I'm too old, injured, and it will take me several years. Me? Yeah the odds are long and I've had very experienced hikers tell me how long the odds are, many, many times.

But my hubby believes in me. He wants me to succeed. He threw the party for me, and my $5.95 dinner (everyone else went Dutch). He knows a lot about long odds, because of our personal issues (which I won't get in to).

And I know others on WB who are behind us too (you know who you are. THANKS!). No matter what happens.

Godspeed 2007 hikers.

[Ronin]

Coralrives said it best: Both the hikers AND their loved ones should have realistic expectations about the upcoming trip.

But calling it an "I'm going away for awhile party and it'd be nice to see you before I go" is exactly the right attitude.

Definitely. I'm having a small get-together with family & friends before I leave. Seeing as my birthday is less than three weeks after I start, it's also being considered a party for that. So, hopefully, I'll stay on the Trail for at least that long!

[Dances with Mice]

Any reason for friends and family to gather over food and drink without having to attend a funeral is a good reason.

[Marta]

I told everyone I knew and lots of people I didn't know that I was planning to hike the AT. Part of it was to pressure myself not to give up too easily. With my announcement, I included the fact that I had a really good chance of being back much, much sooner than expected. Oddly, everyone who has known me for a while, said, "You'll be one of the ones who make it." Uh...am I that obviously pig-headed?

But, yeah, there was a party, and cards and gifts. The best was a gift certificate to REI, which I used when I needed to retool for winter.

I returned to more balloons and cards and gifts. One gift is an engraved stone on a pedestal. The engraving says: "Perserverance and a positive view have the strength to wash all obstacles away," with my name and hike dates.

Marta/Five-Leaf

[Krewzer]

Party on!!! Do not go quietly into that good night. Go singing and shouting.

I had two. Both were great. But the best was a little dinner get-together with my Dad and his church buddies on a Monday evening five days before I was headed to Springer. I think only one, maybe two, had some glimmer of an idea what I was about to do or attempt to do. I was actually a little thankful when dinner was served to change the subject a bit.

About half way through dinner, and the casual conversation had turned to the previous day's church service, my Dad turns to me says, "I had the preacher put you on the prayer list for the sick and shut-in yesterday, because I know you've lost your mind." It cracked the place up.

God, how I miss that old comedian.

[bfitz]

I love parties. I'm having a party of one right now to celebrate all y'all starting. Don't matter what happens after the party, it can't invalidate the party if a good time was had and farewells exchanged. A party stands on it's own. If you quit early it just means you can have your welcome home party that much sooner! I'm thinking unbirthdays.

[emerald]

priceless!

Blissful and Paul Bunyan, see you in Pennsylvania.