I’m inside the red zone! I’m at mile 99, 4 to go.
I know I said I wouldn’t do a full post today, but I need to convey a few things.
First, it wouldn’t be appropriate for Captain Charcuterie / Leechman to end without some adventure! I was awake working on Day 7 blog at 4:30 when the familiar tugboat spotlight and a few horn blasts roused me out of the tent. I know I’m on restricted property, but c’mon!
I came out and realized it was more of a friendly gesture to say, “Hey captain, your boat’s about to get away and you better make sure your sump pump is in working order!” Water rosé again and waves were quite literally lapping at my back door. I now had beach property with water a mere step out my back door.
So earlier start than planned, and Day 7 will still have to wait!
Yesterday I said to myself that I did my last channel crossing. I just couldn’t risk getting caught out there if I break another chain. In reality, that risk has been there all along, but now after 3 million steps the life expectancy on these chains is not what it was. Every parked tugboat had the potential to move into the channel at anytime, so any channel crossing would have to be a sprint.
It reminds me of my sister Jenny the first time she walked home from school by herself. (This was the same sister that was chased around the block by Ellen on the Big Wheel with the carving knife.) My mom told her to look both ways and don’t cross the street if you see any cars. She should’ve clarified that: some time after she should’ve been home my mom went out to find Jenny, who was sitting across the street unable to come home because parked cars were along the road. Ever the rule follower, Jenny was so staid to her restraining directions that she wet her pants.
So, I’ve hugged the left bank all day. Not wanting to risk any more crossings. And I haven’t wet my pants.
The red zone is indeed barge free. I hope to make the next four miles and do the touchdown dance. But you likely won’t hear the final outcome until tomorrow.
So, who caught the spelling “mistake” in the title? I wanted to call out my brother in law Michael who once wrote that on a card to Jenny – ‘I love you sweatheart!’ Maybe he watched a lot of Welcome Back Kotter as a kid and this is what Vinny Babarino called his gal? He was leader of the Sweathogs. Michael is Italian, maybe it’s an Italian thing? Anyway, my wife has sweated through this thing with me for over 2 months, so maybe the endearing phrase is appropriate.
I had two songs in mind for this post: one that I hoped would be the flavor of the day, and one that I hoped would not. I‘lol give them both to you, and pray for another 4 thwompless miles. Aretha Franklin Chain of Fools or Nickel Creek The Smoothie Song
Thanks again all for your prayers and we’ll wishes; time now to take it to the end zone.
Matt’s Mississippi Manifest 
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