Meeting the wife of an Alzheimer's patient on the trail

In the 'tramily' pack that I have been hiking with for the past week there's a tradition at the end of the day to go around and share your 'High, Low, and Ut-Oh of the day. So, Is like to share my high point of the day from yesterday.
...

Today I had a very happy encounter on the side of a mountain. I met a brave woman named Mrs. Eleanor who loves hiking and many of the same things I do :) Eleanor was out for a day's walk with her hip pack and single hiking stick - her therapy, she called it. We crossed paths and she cheerily asked me, "Are you going all the way to Maine?" Well no, in fact I told her, I'm perfectly happy taking it on in sections. So we started our conversation with her telling me that it's just her out hiking since her husband has Alzheimer's and it isn't safe for him, as he gets easily confused and doesn't always want to leave the house anyway.. Mrs. Eleanor told me that they have been residents of nearby NC for a while and that she and her husband loved being outdoors. We bonded on many fleeting sorts of topics for at least 10-15 mins. She told me about the bears that get into her garage and I told her about what it was like to see the influence of climate flux in the subsistence farming community I recently moved from. She felt sincerely appreciative of the cause for Alzheimer's Disease awareness and The Longest Day Event idea of going out and making a memory in honor of something you love doing, especially something a loved one with Alzheimer's loves doing. I was touched when she told me about the 50th anniversary trip she took with her husband to the great national parks in the western US. Now, she reflects on those memories along with the advice that her husband's neurologist gave her to 'Keep your husband safe and take care of yourself.' I knew that she sometimes gets frustrated but her demeanor is so sedating, kind. So, every now and then, she takes time to go out into nature by herself and listen to the sounds of the birds and releases her fears, anger, and stress - as we all should do.

I am so touched by people like Mrs. Eleanor. She embodies the strength of every loved one and caregiver for patients (people) with Alzheimer's Disease. She makes me proud and hopeful to support such research and cause work that the Alzheimer's Association does. In finally passing, we agreed that our encounter was meant to happen and we bid our best wishes.

Thanks for recounting this precious trail moment with me and ... well, thanks for supporting the cause though my fundraising page!! If you haven't checked out, it's here: http://act.alz.org/goto/TakeAhike4ALZ

Keep Calm and Walk On,
B.

Back on the Trail...

This section of the Appalachian Trail has twisted from NC to TN and now I am looking forward to Virginia in a week's walk. I started out slow, while the heat has grown with humidity and my feet are badly torn up...and of course, it's been buggy!!

Trail gnats seem to directly dive for eyeballs or a way to the throat, like up your nose!! So in recollecting the past week's hike, you have a conditioned image, ha!! But the walks have had many highlights and there has been so much natural beauty to relish. Also, my knee has done a 180 and is feeling springy again! I started sprinting downhill when it is a nice, clear pine tree path... but in my boots which is why my feet are in poor shape. Luckily I found a mix matched pair of trail runners in a Hiker Free-Box. They seem to fit really well!

Fresh water sources have
 been a highlight of hiking.

Ok. I'd like to start by mentioning that I have met so many different, amazing hikers and there just happens to be a TON of people from, well Pinellas County! Even my hometown! Ha! I got to joking that we've gotten tired of the surf but it's really neat that so many Floridians get out to these woods.

Along a 2 mile
ridgeline on
Firescald Ridge
 in Tennessee

I met one USF graduate who was out hiking with her boyfriend and dogs. They live in Knoxville and she is a Watershed Scientist. She has had some cool research destinations! When I was up on Firescald Ridge I began to pass a Eagle Scout troop out of Tampa who were doing a week on the Appalachian Trail! 

Moving up in miles, I have walked over several PUDs (Pointless Ups and Downs) but also some very sweet ups and downs (non-knee crunching) with great views!

Little Bald

Up on a meadow facing Big and Little Bald (my hike for the next day), I camped with an improvised lean-to made from my rain tarp wrapped over my trekking poles and my bug net. The night out in the stars was fantastic! I woke up at the right time to try and spot the comet (panSTARRS) in the sky right now. Before clouds rolled over I even saw a shooting star ☄ Now, does this even compare to the sight of the galactic night sky over Zambia? No way, but I'm happy to have so many elements of nature together in the woods!

A good morning meadow wake up!

Also, I must admit defeat over starting a fire in the ring on the meadow, though I'm not surprised with myself. I don't have a Ba Mayo (that'd be, my Zambian Host Mother - a strong woman) to come to my aid; plus, it's been fairly wet recently.

As I get into a day's walk I have enjoyed
listening to a podcast or some good hiking music - like the new Dave Matthews Band album! I'm a happy fan. Or Kenny Chesney's latest - Hey, I am pretty close to his hometown!

Anyway, I recently listened to a fantastic interview by Krista Tippet with a naturalist and author, Michael McCarthy, that made me ponder connections we draw everyday and contribute to our happiness, as well as the profoundess of Earth's annual rebirth. McCarthy describes his reverence for the places in Europe that sparked his philosophy on the power of nature to influence our direction (trees as honing beacon?). He also discusses the meaningfulmess of England's native butterflies in memory of his late mother. You can click the link below to download the episode. I would also recommend the episode of On Being interviewing Joanna Macy, entitled A Wild Love of the World.
https://onbeing.org/programs/nature-joy-and-human-becoming-may2018

I'll wrap up this post with a rare moment caught of my Zambian Host Mother cutting a rug with a smile she so often flashed up to her cheekbones.

Joy to the World, Brandi.

2 Weeks at the DMV

So I'm wrapping up a respite from the woods and ready to get back to hiking. My fate-filled encounter with new friend GQ allowed me to spend more than enough time in the DC/MD/VA are to see friends, eat amazing food, and make myself all too anxious about meeting society's standards. The choices were plentiful and decor, advertisements and flavors enticed my senses. Still, I remain turned off to this area in terms of residency. There are plenty of positively charged cities out there where the same income affords more of the pie. So I bid the capital farewell and forlorn, for the mountains are calling... and, well, you know.. I must go.

Much love to my friends there making it happen and for putting me up and showing me a great time! A couple shoutouts:

To my RPCV fam in the area- Good luck with your careers. I see you on the beat. Don't forget the pace you were once familiar with and appreciate the value of down time.

My Alicia- Thank you for a bliss-filled week, living in your space and sharing your time. The best version of you lies behind those "Gulf of Mexico in the Summer" green eyes. I love you and always will.

Bloss- You've always been clutch, buddy. I'm glad I could distract you from your innovating, fundraising, and email answering. See you again soon. Thanks for all your comfort. Thank Jim and Julia for me, as well.

AJ- Good luck with all your classes at GW and in Oxford. I'm taking notes from your determination and I'm glad we share insights toward law school. Stay focused, you're doing great! Thanks for letting me cuddle with your dogs... I've easily never cuddled so well in my life...ha!

So, I'm going walking for another couple of weeks leading up to The Longest Day Alzheimer's Association event on June 21st. Then I fly home to celebrate life and love and summertime back in Florida with friends and family. Stay tuned to stories from the trail.

As we say in Zambia, Be Free... b.