Date: 2003-11-04
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

A little update for my faithful readers. It has been just over 8 months since we first developed this page. Back when my dream of hiking the trail was just that. A dream. It seems like only yesterday, but here I am, back home after hiking over 1300 miles of the Appalachian Trail. It was the most awesome time of my life. I always thought that hiking this trail would be a life changing experience. I was not sure just how, but I knew it would be. I am still not even sure today to what degree my life has been changed. I am still trying to readjust to the fast pace of life, the finer things in life and all those things that we think we own and need but really they own us. As I contemplate the past six months and being on the trail, I try to sort through all that happened and all that I learned. People will ask me what was my favorite part, or least enjoyable part, or what the most surprising thing I learned was. What did I miss the most about home and like the best on the trail? Those are really tough questions for me and some of the answers are still forth coming. I came home afraid that I hadn't learned enough, or let go of all I was supposed to. Afraid I would not be able to hold onto what I had learned, and remember those magnificent times. The hard times, the fun times, trying times and well, maybe even some bad times. But the funny thing is, the bad times don't come to my mind first. They are buried under all of the fantastic times, the thrills and the events that occurred as I hiked. I never got tired of waking up in the woods. I always was excited about where the trail and my feet were going to take me that day. At night I was always excited about who I would share a campsite with and what I would write about my journal. Even through the incessant rain that went on for days, I was still happy to be on the trail. Bouts of homesickness hit me. How I missed my husband, my children and grandchildren. But I knew that too soon this would all be just a memory, so I didn't dwell on those feelings too much. I fell short of my goal to finish the entire trail in one year; also I did not reach my goal of raising $ 5000.00 for Polio vaccinations. I made it half way on both counts. Hence the reason to go back next year and finish the trail. Then I can build on what I have learned and experience even more of the trail and all it has to offer. The friends I made all along the way will always have a special place in my heart. The hikers who know what it is to be out there day after day. The wanna bees who long to be out there hiking. The people who cannot hike for what ever the reason. All these people are precious to me. I was given a chance of a lifetime to follow my dream. I am still amazed that I had the guts to step out and follow that dream. So much of it was unknown to me. All of it was brand new to me. Now it has become part of my life. At the ripe old age of fifty, I know what I want to be when and if I ever grow up. I want to write. I want to share the pages of my life with others, hoping that they will gain strength and courage from it, and also maybe get laughs along the way. I still vividly remember the day I crossed the thousand mile mark. I fell to the ground, removed my shoes and kissed my feet. I was shocked to find that I could even reach my feet to my lips!!! I will continue to share my walk for polio vaccinations whenever I get the chance. Until this dreadful disease is eradicated from the world, there will be children who will never walk much less hike. Until all of the children have the promise of being polio free I will continue to raise money using whatever means I can. Thanks to all of you who so graciously sponsored me on my hike. There is still plenty of time to add more sponsors, to raise more money, to help more children to walk. Not everyone can take an extended leave and go hike. I hope that through my trail journal and my website, I was able to help all of you hike vicariously through me. Let's continue to work together with Rotary International and Lend a Hand to eradicate Polio.