Date: 2005-07-12
From: Luray, VA

To: Luray, VA
Miles today: 0.0

I broke my promise, and decided to take zero day to give myself some time to heal the wound on my hips and between my legs. I went to Wal-mart to do some re-supply. After shopping, I sat down on bench, just inside the Wal-Mart lobby where the entrance and exits doors are. I saw someone very familiar that came in the store. I realized that was Jim Cotter, a park ranger whom I worked with during my 4 summer season job at Wolf Trap Farm Park. I ran and wrote down the note at same time and approached Jim, and asked if he is Jim Cotter. Apparently it was my trail magic! It was 10 years since I left the job. So, he told me that he is hosting the party at his place. I was thrilled to go because I was struggling of being lonely on the trail and want to socialize more. I told him that I am thru hiking the Appalachian Trail and don't have car. Asked him if he can pick me up from Budget Inn. He said ok and will have someone to come and pick me up at around 8. I was very excitied. So I walked back to my motel and get myself ready for the good time. At 8, no body showed up. At 9, nobody showed up, and finally at 9:45, no body showed up, and I checked the white page to see if Jim Cotter is listed and yes he is listed in the white page, so I went to the gas station to see if they have map. I found the map and learned that he lives only about 3 or 4 miles from motel. So, I wondered why he can't pick me up even tho it was only 3 or 4 miles.   Maybe they just don't want a deaf person to join because of lack of communication. I don't know. So, I went to the lady that lives in the house. She works for Budget Inn. SO, I asked her if she can call Jim and asked what time they would come and pick me up. She called and then wrote down said that Jim said nobody can come and pick me up. I was totally down. Decided that I would just walk all the way to Jim Cotter and surprise him. I indeed surprise Jim Cotter at about 11:30 in the morning. Everyone was drunk. Some people still swimming. The party is still on. I told Jim that I walked from my motel to his home. He said "YOU WALKED?!?!" In my thought, yeah, its only 4 miles and why is it hard for him to pick me up?? So I met those people who works for Wolf Trap Farm Park in Vienna, VA. I had good time but until I left the scene and realized I lost Digital Camera. I become upset because I have 500 pictures already on the memory card. I thought someone stole it. I found the digital camera and then finally I left and walked back to my motel in the early morning. In the morning, I was ready to leave but realized that I lost my wallet. If not for walking the 4 miles, I won't lost this wallet. I just wish that Jim would come and pick me up. So, the stress become huge because of the idea of being lonely again, no one talk to me on the trail and even in the shelter. And, keep wondering WHY no one care to pick me up. Would they pick me up if I am not deaf person? I don't feel good about it. So, I walked to Jim Cotter's house AGAIN and looked for the wallet. With no luck, I become less secure and my thoughts of continue hiking comes to end. A guy there gave me a ride back to motel and I stayed there. The motel room wasn't paid because I don't have any forms of plastic to pay for it. The woman there told me that I can pay tomorrow. I know I don't have cash with me but instead I stayed. I went to the library and beg for some help on whiteblaze.net because I lost the sense of function. So I went back to motel.