The story so far …

Well, as you may have guessed, my planned 2020 trip to Shikoku did not occur. I was one week from leaving when the U.S. State Department raised their Travel Advisory rating for Japan to “Level 3 – Reconsider Travel” which was my personal bar for cancelling the pilgrimage. Of course, it turned out to be the correct choice as, as you are well aware, the world essentially shut down within a matter of weeks.

I continued working as our office moved to a working from home model until I, along with a number of my other co-workers, was furloughed. Fortunately, I wasn’t let go, so spent the next few months teaching myself some electronics, built my first computer, took off 30 pounds, went on a solo-backpacking trip along a 100-mile portion of the Appalachian Trail through Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, and, generally, spent too much money keeping myself amused and occupied.

Unfortunately, as the pandemic wore on and, with my social activities severely curtailed, I started to fall into a deep funk. After a lengthy stretch of sleepless nights, I asked a friend for a recommendation and started seeing a professional therapist, got diagnosed with clinical depression and started a course of anti-depressants. Got vaccinated against COVID-19!

I started working again, gained 50 pounds due to the anti-anxiety medication, got diagnosed and treated for a very common form of skin cancer. Got my best work performance review ever and a nice raise. With the doctor’s permission, I stopped the medication and quickly dropped 20 pounds. Tried to re-book the Japan airline ticket I’d been kicking down the road, but the airline went, “Nah, not again.” So I used the ticket to go scuba diving in the Red Sea and see the pyramids. That was cool.

My workplace had developed a yearly offering to sponsor a limited number of employees to personal growth projects pertaining to spirituality or mental health. I filled out the form and handed over dozens of pages of Shikoku pilgrimage research I’d been compiling since 2018. I’d already put a lot of work into this and it’s such a darn interesting trip. Several months later, I happily received the call telling me I was one of the awardees. I anticipate being reimbursed for a large portion of the pilgrimage and the price is a trip report and photos. I had already been planning a blog and am known to take thousands of photos on my trips as it is.

My nephew, whom I had previously invited to accompany me, called me up after graduating college to ask the offer was still open. It was. It is. He’ll be joining me.

Oh, yeah, and I grew my hair out the longest it’s been in my life. I have to say I kind of like it.

So, I’d say we’re pretty much caught up. My gear is on the rocking chair awaiting my final checklist tomorrow evening. My travel documents are in order, my intended walking itinerary is complete, including the main 88 temples, the 20 bekkaku (“special”) temples, a number of pre-selected bangai (“unnumbered”) sacred sites, historical and cultural opportunities, and my nails are cut really, really, really short.