So now what? The walk is over, and allegedly there are other parts of my life that need tending to.

When I get together with a friend after a long hiatus, we have a method of getting back in the swing of things. We go topic by topic until we feel caught up. So here are my topics to help us get re-aquainted:

• Work. First I have to convince my boss to let me keep writing this column. I figure you all tolerated me through hundreds of miles of walking, you may as well figure out what the rest of me is all about, right? The journalism world is always changing and always challenging. I look forward to wrapping my brain around all the different aspects of it.

• Friends. They are a handful, this bunch! There is not a single week in the next couple months that doesn’t contain someone’s birthday, bridal shower, wedding or other fun event. I’m excited for all of them, but a teeny part of me wants to go hide and be a hermit. It’s almost too much adrenaline and estrogen. I won’t hide out, of course, but sometimes it just sounds nice.

• Family. Somewhere along the last couple months there was upheaval in my normally calm family. My grandpa had open heart surgery and spent a couple weeks in the hospital, and my 20-year-old brother made a big move to Northern California. I plan on making a lot more calls home to check in on everyone. I also should probably take some time to visit my brother, since is sharing a house with my best friend, Cindy, and frankly, there’s no excuse not to.

• Love. My extraordinarily patient boyfriend, Peter, has exactly the opposite feelings about planning as I do. I like to make sure I know when everything is scheduled, and I like to jam pack that schedule with fun events. He would much rather fly by the seat of his pants.

“Be spontaneous,” he says. My idea of spontaneity is putting “Peter weekend” on my calendar. My new mission is to write more of those on my calendar, and actually follow through on them. Too often a Peter weekend gets pushed aside for another planned event.

• Travel. So much is coming up! My friend Stacey is getting married in Cancun next month, so I’ll be headed south of the border. I’ll be traveling with my buddy Remi who is sure to help me find a good margarita or two. She’s the single gal in the group, so there will probably be a cute man holding said margarita, but I figure that means all the more for her since we’re all non-single.

In December, my family and I get to head to Mexico again, but this time on a ship. We’ll be taking a Carnival cruise for four days. The only big stop is Ensenada, which I’m sure many people will laugh at. But I can’t think of a better way to spend the holidays than with unlimited food and entertainment with my family.

• Health. I need to not be lazy. Seriously. The walk is over, and now all I want to do is hang out on the couch. I thought this week that I would become a runner. What a joke! I am not a runner. I’m not a jogger. I’m barely even a walker. So it’s back to the gym for me. I have a fitness challenge going on with my friends, and I will not be the loser in that points game.

I also get to buckle down and get my wisdom teeth taken out soon. Oh, how I love a good trip to the dentist. Lucky for me, I have a support team to take care of me after I’m doped up and sent home with two gaping holes in my mouth.

• Avon. Just like cancer doesn’t rest, neither does my team. We’ve already blocked off dates reaching far into 2009 for different fundraising and training events. We will take this walk with the same amount of ambition and promise that we did the last two, if not more. We had two new team members join this week. Watch out cancer, we’re coming for you.

Choat is the copy desk chief for the Napa Valley Register. Contact her at mchoat@napanews.com.