I’m about to go backpacking up to the Sparkplug Mine for a night.  It’s an abandoned mine with cabins to sleep in.  I have to carry everything on my back, which is sore.  But that’s okay, it’s for my birthday.

Before I leave, I wanted to blog about people, and being missed I guess.  Because I forgot to do this yesterday, this is going to be a lot shorter than planned, as I am running short on time.

Most places I’ve gone in life I haven’t really felt welcomed.  This has nothing to do with people trying to welcome me or not, it’s just that I wasn’t comfortable.  I don’t often see myself staying places, and I’m usually excited to leave.  I meet people everywhere and miss them when I’m gone, but I’ve never really felt missed.  Until now.

I’m used to my closest LPC friends saying they miss me, because I live with them all year and we’re only apart for breaks, but we know we’ll see each other again.  As much as I love them, I know we’re all going to be okay when we finally do part our ways for good.
However, this summer I fell in love with a place and the people there.  I’m not saying that I’m planning on moving there or anything like that, I’m just saying that I fit there.  Eureka made me feel like I belonged for the first time ever.  I felt like I was home, and that’s saying a lot.  All of this is because of the people I met there.
For the first time in my life, people say they miss me, now that I’m gone.  And I believe them.  I haven’t gotten it from one or two people, but from all of the friends I made there.
Before I left for Eureka, which is in Humboldt county, I got a lot of flak from people because I was going to Humboldt.  They were telling me that it might be dangerous and I might get sucked into drug culture and all of these other things.  I’m assuming that these people have never actually been to Humboldt.  Eureka only welcomed me.  I wasn’t afraid to be who I am, because they only cared about who I am as a person.  I saw no real negativity.  Eureka was filled with joy and warmth, even if the weather was cooler.  Whenever I have the chance, I will go back to visit.
I have friends.  And I miss them and they miss me.

I’m sorry this was short and rambly.  Time to backpack.