Yay!!! Im So Excited About This. Congratulations!!

Yay!!! I’m so excited about this. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 congratulations!!

Ahoy everyone! I have wonderful news. After four and a half years of working on my book, it not only is now 100% complete, but tomorrow keep your eyes out for a very special post here, where I will be announcing the book's title, premise, and release date! It has been a long journey, and I've kept the premise under wraps for the most part (aside from a few I've spoken, or conferred, with). But its very gratifying to be able to state that the project is complete, and I am very excited to reveal more information tomorrow and in the coming days.

(Pictured is a photo I took of my skeleton last evening out at the beach)

Back on my island. Was looking for the gray man, but it was too sunny out.

I’m moving today.

*Long post ahead*

Yesterday was my last Saturday here. This wonderful day has been the light at the end of every dark week I’ve lived through here. Living for the weekends is never a great way to exist, and this past year I have learned it the hard way.

It’s no way to live a life forever. I can’t help but reflect on this past year here at Max Patch Mountain. A huge bucket list item I’ve wanted to see for years, but never came. I have had a list of mountains and hikes I wanted to see while I was here. Max Patch was the ONLY box left unchecked. God, did I save the best for last. My last Saturday as a resident of Greenville.

Walking this loop, I think of the beautiful places I’ve seen. I am now looking at the most beautiful Appalachian landscape I’ve ever seen. I’m wondering, how can I leave something so beautiful? For some reason, I have peace in my heart leaving it behind.

When I reached the top of the mountain, I started to cry. Not of sorrow, but of closure, exhaustion, a “see you later” of sorts. So much emotion from the past year filled me. I look at something so overwhelmingly beautiful - The good side of living here.

All of this was better on paper when I decided to leave my home. I had always wanted to live near the mountains. But beauty and Saturdays are only a part of life. I may not have as many “Wow” and up moments after I move. But I know I will not have the lows I’ve had here. They were so lows. My sense of adventure was too strong here. The call of the void never left me. I HAD to hike and see something beautiful in my free time or else I would loose it.

I’ve seen all the seasons change here except fall. I’ll be honest. When I was considering moving back, I knew my lease ended in September. It was actually extremely hard for me to let autumn here go. I moved here in November after the leaves fell. I wanted to live under the canopy of the deciduous forests and their foliage. I always make a trip during the fall to see the leaves. It hurt knowing that was a sacrifice I had to make. I’ll be back, just not living here.

Maybe if circumstances were different Sunday-Friday, I would have lasted longer here. I know I’ve written so many long posts going back and forth about these decisions. It’s just so profound to me because when I moved here, I truly thought I was going to make this place a home. When winter soon hit, I was all alone, the rose colored glasses I wore to work the first few weeks quickly fell off. It didn’t even snow. The one place in South Carolina it occasionally snows and it didn’t this year.

I really thought I was going to be here for a long time. I truly believed this was going to be a new home for me. I never anticipated any of this happening. I went after a job that looked good on paper, to a place that looked good on paper. I ended up being miserable here.

Autumn is coming and I will be spending it along the coast under the pine forests. Not many colorful leaves. I will be okay. No, I do not think the ocean is as conventionally pretty as Max Patch. But, the shore is what holds what I love most in this world, and if I learned anything this past year, I know what I love the most. Fall along the coast means shrimping with dad. It means decorating coffee shops and standing on an empty beach with cool salt air. I’ve always loved the fall.

I’ll be back to the mountains soon. Already have a trip booked with my friends in October. It’s time to bid adieu to this life. Thank you Pisgah, for the best continuous Saturdays of my life.

Today, I am moving away. Packing up and driving east. With all these emotions - I am so excited to come home.

Went to the farm today. I’m so glad I’m coming home. Every time I go with my PaPa, he tells me stories of his summer jobs picking peaches in the summer 60+ years ago.

Fyingpan Fire Tower in Pisgah National Forest. Right as the clouds were rolling in. The 3rd picture is the tower’s shadow from the sun.

Conway, SC in October is actually one of my favorite things. Right as I’m emotionally preparing to leave the area… they do this. Ima miss you little town 😭😭