Date: 2005-04-28
From: Davis Path Shelter

To: Davis Path Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

9 Messages on the voicemail. None of them were the one we were hoping for, just concerned friends. We're grateful for them and their love, but we were really hoping to hear that someone had found Chaya.I walked into Atkins at 7am to do several things pertaining to the search launch like: printing a flier (designed, and sent via email by Jenny Colvin and Carol B-- THANKS), made phone calls, and talked to several locals, including the USFS. Word is out among the hikers, though there has been something of a lull in the last day and a half. What I'd really like to do is pay a thru-hiker to take a zero at this shelter so Hannah and I could both leave at the same time. We're trying to make sure one of us is always there, in case she finds her way back.Hannah left for town about 12, an hour and a half after I returned, to meet my mom who, in compassion, drove up to help with the search.I'm trying not to think too much about Chaya. We've started thinking the worst and letting our hearts bleed. Healing will take a while, but I'd rather begin the process and be later pleasantly surprised than to hold foolishly (a split infinitive, I know. Back off) on to a false hope, just to have it never fulfilled.Several theories have probed my brain as to what might have happened. The happiest ones involve her finding shelter with good people who will see our phone number on the tags and call us. The depressing theories involve her injured or somehow unable to return to us, with her collar fallen off. I know that wherever she is, she wants to be back with us as badly as we pine for her return. But so far, things are still bad. The tears are more infequent now at least.We're beginning to think about our future on the trail and off. Right now we're planning to continue our hike with or without our pup, but the thought has crossed my mind that we might flip flop back to Virginia, starting in July or August. That way, we could save a little money and be devoted to a thorough search for Chaya. There are several appealing pros that go along with that option.We will finish this trail; either we'll finish the miles, or we'll finish what we set-out to experience, hopefully both. We might be section hikers. Who knows? We are comitted to our fund raiser, but we cannot hike for anything other than our own desire.Times are hard right now, but I know the power and promise of resurrection is real."I'm in a glass case of emotion... ... Baxter, is that you? Bark twice if you're in Milwaukee." --Ron Burgundy, after losing his dog in Will Ferrell's Anchorman.Our friend, Quarter of the way, volunteered to slack back into Atkins so he could call for Chaya North of the shelter. He just walked by and ate his liunch with me. His reassuring words were: "No matter where a dog is, he's happy. He's a dog. Dog's are always happy.""What happens to a dream deferred?" --Langston Hughes5:30 pmI told myself that if Hannah wasn't back by 6, I'd have to go get water. I don't have any more. I've been sitting around this shelter by myself all day, yelling for Chaya every 2 minutes and eating. Misery and loneliness is a terrible combination. I've found interesting ways of keeping myself entertained, a la Tom Hanks's Cast Away. Oh well, I guess I go get some water. It's starting to get cold and rainy. It will be dark soon. I miss Hannah. It stinks that Chaya had to get lost at the shelter where the water source is a mile away. This is the first time the shelter will be unmanned since she ran off.10 pmGod is so good to us. As I was walking down the trail to get water, Hannah and mom were hiking back up... with Chaya!!! They had been gone all day, passing our fliers and following locals' leads and tips. Several folks in town had seen her throughout the day, and finally a man called who gave them the tip that lead them right to her location: The Atkins Industrial Park. Chaya's really tired and sore. Hannah thinks she may have been bumped by a car. I'm elated with unbound joy. When I was small, four or five, I remember watching the Miss America pageant , especially the moment of the crowning, when Miss America cries, fans, waves, and holds flowers. I remember asking, "Why is she crying? She won." "Tears of Joy," my parents answered. "Sometimes you can be so happy you cry, just like when you're sad." Until this evening I had never actually sobbed true tears of joy. The reunion was genuine and love was reciprocated. Chaya was grateful and relieved to be back with us.We just returned to the Relax Inn in Groseclose, VA, our abode for the evening. We ate dinner at My Puerto Mexican Restaurant in Marion, where we each (including my mother) enjoyed a Kelly/Neon green margarita in celebration of Chaya's return. I had to drive home Now if I can only find the hotel key and the cell phone. Apparently, I'm "the biggest loser." I can't hold on to anything except the dog, who's been doomed to the leash from now on.I'm just a Tennessee Walker.Joshua Ashton Hill"Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. You mean that's it? The kid just gave up? You gotta think, you got a pet, you got a tresponsibility. You don't just look for 2 hours and call it quits. You get your @$$ our there and find that F#%@ing dog!!!" --Billy Madison, in Adam Sandler's "Billy Madison" loosely quoting the scene where Ms. Lippy reads "a puppy who lost its way" to the kindergarten class.