march 25- first seder

Our day in knoxville was pretty good too. Woke up around 9am, didnnt get outta bed til 10 thoough. I was the first one awake in the house, and dj woke up not too long after. We helped austin clean up the kitchen and wash the dishes. we ate whatever leftovers we had from the night before and austin made eggs. we left around 1pm. Austin drove one us back to the groundswell collective because dj had left his hat there. The doors were locked and nobody was inside. Then we dropped off austins friend eric. After that we went to an outfitter store so dj can get a new camelback, as his had gotten a leak the day before. I got a new filter for my pump while i was there. Every time i go to an outfitter i check out the backpacks and boots. Backpacks because i want to get a smaller lighter one. Mine is a 90 liter, which is huge, and weighs about 6lbs. There are 70 liter packs which weigh less than 4lbs. Problem is, i cant justify spending $200 for a 2.5lb reduction at this point. The same goes for my boots, they are big, heavy, and despite that they dont do much to support my ankles. Having lighter boots will definitely make my trip easier, but at only 150 miles in i dont want to get new boots. Im considering getting new boots in damascus, which is another 150 miles down the trail. So that i wont feel like my currrent boots will be wasted. Also, at that point the weather will be warmer, so ill be able to get boots with more ventilation so the summer will be more comfortable. Back to the day in knoxvillle... after the outfitter austin drove us to a goodwill. We said goodbye and gave him our extra non passover food. Hes starting the trail on saturday, so the food will be helpful. We went to goodwill to buy suits for passover. We wanted to make a decent impression on the people wed be spending pesach with. Besides, trail clothes just dont look good at a passover seder. After that we walked the mile towards where we were staying. We stopped and found some kosher wine at a liquor store for our host. It was the first liquor store ive seen since ive got here. There are entire counties in the south where no alcohol is allowed. Possession of alcohol in some places is a crime down here. We found the house. Our host, miriam, is a physiatrist. She works with children in a hospital, and does rehab with them. Some after injuries, usually brain injuries, and some who were born with developmental issues, such as premature or because the mother may have been on drugs. The first seder was starting pretty soon after we got to the house. We called our families before the holiday started then hurried to the shul, which was pretty much across the street. The seder was unlike anyy i had ever been to. When we arrived at the shul we were instructed to pick up a nametag and haggadah. Each nametag had a different group name on it. Ill get to that soon. The whole congregation, about 100 people, sang the names of the different parts of the seder. Then the rabbi made kiddush, followed by washing, then he broke the middle matzah and set it aside for the afikomen. Then each group went to assigned classrooms for the discussion of passover, also known as maggid, or "telling over". Some of the member of our group werent even jewsh, but wanted to experience a passover seder while contemplating conversion. After about an hour of that the entire congregation met in the ballroom for the meal. By each plate there was the components of korech, which is the traditional sandwich made by the passover seder. Korech is made of matzah, bitter hebrs, and charoses, a chunky paste of ground nuts, apples, and wine. We washed for the matzoh, made the sandwich, and the meal began. I made sure to have plenty of wine, just in case i missed one of the four cups. Besides, the cups were small. Had about 1.5 liters by the end of it. The meal ended with the congregation singing chad gadyah, the last song in the passover haggaddah. Then everyone left. Me and dj stayed for a bit. I helped clean the tables, while helping make sure there wasnt too much leftover wine. By the way, greatest quote of the night was created while i was helping to consolidate the opened bottles of wine. One of the workers asked me if im marrying tthe bottles, which is another way of asking if im consolidating them. I responded " ive never married a bottle before, but ive spent the night with one" . I thiink it was a genius line. When we finished cleaning up we went back to the house were staying at, fell asleep shortly after.