Where Is She?

 

Turkeypen Ridge Trail - GSMNP

March 11, 2011

There are a  couple of very good reasons for my more than a week long absence from BlogWorld, but just like this normally placid rockhop I encountered a couple of weeks ago, there is one particular reason that I'm having trouble getting past.  Due to recent heavy rains and snowmelt, this crossing which I've done many times, actually forced us to turn around and choose another trail altogether.  

I could tell you that my absence was because the wireless access did not work properly at the cabin Mr. B and I occupied from Friday afternoon until yesterday morning.  And that would be true.  But the greater truth is that I must finally admit to myself and, more importantly to you, that blogging has simply taken a backseat to the rest of my life.  I make no apologies for the fact that I think East Tennessee is the most beautiful place in the world to live, but from mid-March through early June, it is simply a taste of heaven and all I want is to be out in it to experience every color, sound, taste and smell that arises with each new bud that opens and flower that blooms.  I wake up, do my morning devotions and then just want to head outside.  

So for now, I am releasing myself from the pressure of regular posting.  I considered several possibilities including a total break or a commitment to a weekly post at a particular time, but neither of those FELT right.  Because it's the pressure I put on myself to write that I needed to release myself from, not the desire to write.  That is so totally still there - the list of ideas in my journal is a testament to that!  So Gains and Losses is still very much an active blog and you'll know when you see a post from me that it is 100% from the heart and EXACTLY what I was wanting to do at that point in time.  I still have visions of posting on a regular schedule and ideas of how I want this blog to eventually look, but for now, a life with which I am very content has taken priority.  

Mr. B and I spent a glorious weekend in the Millstone Cabin in Maggie Valley, NC.  We hiked both Saturday and Sunday.   With an additional solo hike I did yesterday, I have now hiked over 100 miles in 2011.  All the trails we did were new trails for me and I have grown to love the Cataloochee Valley area of the Smokies.  I have not yet downloaded our pictures, but I'm sure you'll begin seeing them in upcoming posts.

I am in the midst of planning our summer trip and that's just another thing that is taking a good bit of time.  We will have the month of June and our original plan was to visit Maine, but for several reasons, we've amended that and are looking at visiting Colorado again.  More on that as the trip unfolds.

My eating is going very well and I know that when I post my quarterly weight on March 31, it will reflect a loss.  Not a significant loss, but one with which I am content.   Spending the entire month of January and part of February basically laying on the couch gave me a lot of time to reflect and consider what's important and what's not.  Yes, being at goal weight is VERY important.  The time I spend thinking and worrying about it is not.  Too many opportunities in my life have been wasted or lost because I was too busy worrying that I might eat something I shouldn't or gain a pound.  

I love every last one of you and am so grateful for every moment you spend reading this blog.  I am right here and will continue to be!  My hope is that what I write contains enough substance and is interesting enough that no matter how random my posting is, you'll always smile when something new pops up.  

As for now, I've got to get out and check on the Trillium I saw yesterday afternoon that was just ready to burst forth with it's glorious yellow flower.