I tend to be a more “factual” and serious blogger, so I thought I’d throw a fun one out there for all yall following my blog ;]
Before you come on the race the “talk” about what you’ll experience from past racers clutters your mind. They tell you things like, “you’re gonna be skinny as a rail when you come home” or “you’ll sleep in your tent every month” and some even say, “hide yo this, hide yo that, hide yo life”. Well in reality, none of that has been true of my race so far. I am not skinny as a rail, continuous carbs every meal aka potatoes and rice and bread does a number on the hourglass figure. I haven’t slept in my tent once. And, I actually haven’t had to hide anything in any place I’ve been, which has been an incredible blessing! (Note: this isn’t the advice given by ever alum racer, it really depends on their route :])
In thinking about this blog, I started thinking back to those “expectations” I was supposed to give up, and it reminded me how thankful I am – for the little things.
So here’s a list of 10 “little” things that I’m SO thankful for and have come to appreciate MUCH more in being without them on the race.
10. Cotton balls – I never thought painting my nails would be something I’d do often. Man how I wish I had an endless supply of cotton balls to get the polish off when it’s looking real gross. Toilet paper just doesn’t do the trick…which leads me to my next one..
9. Toilet Paper – it gets real interesting when a shower loufa and a towel becomes your toilet paper. Or you “dig” through the trash to find the “cleanest” looking piece of used toilet paper thinking, “Oh I bet someone just blew their nose in this…no big deal.
8. Salad – I MISS GREEN THINGS in my diet. I think I’ll commission myself to a month of straight up grass when I get home.
7. Momma’s cooking – there just ain’t nothing like it.
6. Printers – weird right? 10 windows are constantly open on my computer because I have to “save” the web pages to later write down, since just “printing” it off is a foreign concept.
5. Big Red – this was my ride back in the states. She was a piece of work, but I appreciate her MUCH more after some of the modes of transportation I've taken on the race. I'd climb through her passenger side door to drive ANY day.
4. My clothes – I’ve never thought about how to wear 5 outfits more than 5 different ways in my LIFE.
3. Napkins – hands just don’t work as well.
2. Bags at the grocery store – Never did I ever think I’d have to walk around town for an entire day carrying 10 packets of hot chocolate, a banana, some juice, toothpaste, and bread in my purse. Bags = convenience.
1. A REAL towel – camping towels just don’t do the trick.
All to say, appreciate the simple things in life. You never know when you’ll be without them ;]
Someone went to the store today and got some toilet paper. I'm a happy girl.
