Let's be honest here...

In re-reading the previous post, it is obvious I did it while recovering from my own injuries. The truth is (and I do NOT like admitting this) I was the weakest link on last weekend's Appalachian trek. Di started the whole thing with about 15 additional pounds in her already-30 pound pack (because she was determined to enjoy home made soup, chili, and a box of wine--which we ALL appreciated.) Di was amazing. She and I shared the woes of blisters, but she held up great. Tim and I shared knee pains, but he helped carry some of my stuff the last day so I wouldn't hold up the whole works on our way into Harper's Ferry. (Peg reminded me that I'd had that knee operated on the week before Tim & Di's wedding--I was the maid of honor on crutches!) Melissa? Well, her "Litte Bird" pace and energy were unstoppable. We were all tired and sore and wanted to soak our feet in the Susquehanna River, but I don't want to give anyone the impression that I was as tough as these other three. I'd LOVE to be the TOUGHEST--but I think I need to have a little more conditioning (and a little better foot preparation!) to do it again. The "tough like Tina" phrase will have to now apply to situations where your body is telling you to STOP but you have 17 miles left to hike and you DO IT. And I WOULD do it again, in a heartbeat!

By the way, "Little Bird," is the "trail name" we gave Melissa. Apparently it's "the thing" to have a trail name. We were giving Melissa a hard time about how little she was eating during the weekend. Her perky response was, "Oh, don't worry about me. I hardly eat anything. I'm like a bird."

Di was "Swiss Miss," coined the 2nd day when it got warm and she rolled her pants up to above her knees, revealing colorful, knee-high wool socks. All she needed was a pair of liederhosen to complete the look. And to make it better, we stopped to chat w/some fellow hikers and one of the women kept remarking about Di, "Just look at her--she's just MADE for this sort of thing! Just look at those LEGS--she's just MADE for this!" The laughs about that lasted quite a while. Di's line became, "The Appalachian trail is NOTHING compared to the Alps!"

I can't remember if we decided Tim was "Puddleglum" or "Eyeore." He was the voice of reason amidst our pounding determination to do it ALL and do it FAST. He did encourage what was probably a good decision. Those extra 15 pounds Di was carrying the first day? Well, we ate the soup for dinner, then ate the chili for breakfast, lightening that load considerably. And I will say it did not seem weird at all to eat chili for breakfast (we were probably just THAT hungry.)

I'm not sure I got a nickname. What would apply? "Gimpy?" "Tina Blisterina?" "Madame Duct Tape?" All I know is that when we gathered at the restaurant at the end of the hike and John prayed for the meal, he prayed specifically for my healing. I must have seemed in bad shape. (But the prayers worked--I feel pretty much back to normal, save the remaining blisters!)

But I think there is something healthy about doing something that pushes one's personal physical limits like that. It is good to be exhausted and spent and it is INCREDIBLE to do it all outside under a canopy of woods and October sky with three good friends. I prayed a lot as we walked; prayed for Evelyn and Amelia and for a lot of other people. It was SO GOOD.