Annie Parsons
Writing as light
The darkness of this world has been weighing me down and sucking me under, cinderblocks tied to my ankles. You know what I’m talking about; all the news is bad. Every day is full of incessant sound bites, ISIS and Syria and Ebola and child abuse and gunmen hiding in the woods. It’s enough to…
Grace and potatoes
In the last month or so, I’ve been having a quiet mental breakdown. I say “quiet” because it’s not like I’m falling apart. I’m waking up and exercising and getting my work done. I painted a wall in my living room the other day. I’m meal planning and taking Foxy on walks and meeting friends…
September
Well, hello September. I’ve made nary a murmur in this place for over a month. You want to know why? It’s a little thing called a J-O-B. I went back to work on August 4, and that was that. Because listen, I don’t care how much you love your job – going back after 5…
Nothing doing
Let me tell you what: 3+ weeks of unscheduled vacation time? Just what the doctor ordered (and the doctor is me). First, I must say thank you for all of your amazingly kind words after I bailed off the trail. I knew that I had made the right decision, but still felt a little sheepish…
The time I walked to Twin Lakes Village – and then got in a car and drove home
On Monday night I rolled my ankle, and that was that. Yesterday morning, I limped 11 miles out to Twin Lakes Village where Kristen and Lacey were waiting to resupply me, and after a few hours in Leadville in which I wrestled it over, I asked them to take me home. Of course, the decision…
The time I walked to Breckenridge
The night before I left, my mom said to me, “I just never want you to be scared, or anything to be hard.” I laughed, because didn’t she know what I’d signed up for? Like it or not, I was right: the first week on the Colorado Trail has been scary and hard – mostly…
Unplug and go outside
It’s finally here. I head out tomorrow – and don’t think I haven’t been singing this in my head all morning – especially the part about “How can I live when we are parted?” (Foxy), and also “Tomorrow we’ll be far away” (except only maybe 20 miles max) and “Tomorrow is the judgment day” (it’s…
#teamhootenannie
We interrupt Annie’s (not-so-)regularly scheduled blog posts to bring you a special message from her friends Juliette, Dani, and Val. This is a blog hijacking! ::::: Do you know Annie Parsons? If you do – then you love Annie Parsons. There’s no two ways about it. And if you love Annie Parsons, you are probably…
Trail food
This is the week! I leave on Saturday to hoof it across this beautiful state on the Colorado Trail. I am wrapping up details at work, trying to get my roof repaired (this is cutting it very close), writing out instructions for those taking care of Foxy, and triple checking my packing list. The most…
A nighttime park sit
Last night at 10pm, I walked Foxy the block to Jefferson Park. Even in the dark by myself, I feel safe in the park. It’s the hub of the neighborhood, home to big family barbecues and outdoor movie nights and workout boot camps, and late at night is the only time I feel safe letting…