The Aftermath

View from Whitetop

I drove away from the mountains and hills of southwest VA after another Trail Days headed home to Ohio and plugged in a CD that always makes me cry.  It is the first CD/movie made by a good friend, many moons ago, when he was just experimenting with this medium.  It was, for him, a monumental step to put his art out there and it is such beautiful, touching mix of songs that it inspires me. It reminds me always of the hills I love.  

Grayson Highlands View

This person has become, over the years, a solid friend whom I only see a couple of times a year at specific events.  Treasuring every moment with him and other long known trail friends, we’ve swapped wild stories, laughter, beer, food and hugs. Over the years and miles, we have come to know how fleeting and precarious life can be. As our knees become stiff and our eyes don’t see the mountains tops so clearly, we realize that the beauty and shared knowledge of independence that hiking brings is what joins us and defines us…people, friends from all over the country have a common secret that we share.  I played this music watching as the VA Highlands disappeared in the rear view mirror and I cried.

Attack...friends at Trail Days

This Trail Days, I’ve had several poignant conversations with people who are my family, yet we are completely unrelated by blood.   As one friend said, “I love you, Vera and it’s because you’re family, trail family.”  He said this as he shared that after assisting hundreds of hikers over the years, he would be attempting a thru hike of the AT in 2018. We looked each other as tears welled up in both our eyes and I patted his back as he engulfed me in a bear hug.  I knew what this meant to him, I know how precarious and how precious this trip is for him.  We hugged extra-long and I wished him well.  As I walked away, I thought, I want to go with you on this old hikers walk because I, too, have dreamed, wished, thought for so many years of doing this very same long walk.

Headed towards WhitetopAs the VA highlands vanished around a corner, my heart said, “What would you do if you could do anything you want?  What would your unencumbered soul do with all its brilliance, dreams and long-awaited wishes? What if there were no, ifs, ands or buts. What if you could just do, BE whatever you so dream? What would you DO?  Which one of the many schemes you’ve dreamed would you wish to accomplish most?”  I looked at those blue-ridged, steaming, fog covered mountains and thought – I would walk there.  And so, I dream.  There is a hike I planned for this summer.  I’ll see how it goes and then go from there. (unfortunately, a summer’s walk is not happening this year)

Hiking with Mawee and Pawee - Cloudland SP

Here’s a challenge for all of you, a gauntlet throw down….what would you do with this one life you’ve been given if you could fly free and follow your dreams? How would you answer the above questions?  Might it be time to consider trying a new direction, following your dreams?  As someone once said, “If not now, then when?”

Into the Shadows