Tomorrow, Marty and I celebrate two years of marriage (and almost 7 years together). We had a fairytale wedding, and Marty even went along with my Jeep wedding photos. (You can read all about the Jeep photos here.) Our story started on a trail. On February 8, 2020, we met for a 7-mile hike, and Shadow tagged along. A week…
Seasoned
One year ago today, we said goodbye to Shadow. Shadow was five years old when he found us. Sean had wanted a husky since he was little. After one of his hospital procedures, we went to Build-A-Bear, and of course he built a husky. Years later, when he was away at college, he called me one night. A classmate had…
Soggy Trails and a Spoiled Husky
Well, friends, I promised to report back from the trail, and what a report it is! We hiked the entire Canebrake Trail, met up with the Foothills Trail, and stopped there for lunch. The rain that was supposed to start as a drizzle at 3 pm showed up at 1 pm instead and turned into a pretty heavy rain. We…
Heavy Hearts, Light Packs
Happy Saturday, friends! I’m sitting in a hotel room with my coffee, my pack is by the door. I made final adjustments to my pack in the room last night. Marty’s is still in the car. I’m itching to hit the trail. Before we head out, I want to look back on the week, because it was a full one.…
Nine Years and Two Days
Today, October 1st, marks 34 years since my brother Steve died from a drug overdose. October 1, 1992. I was 24. He was 33. Just two days ago was the 43rd anniversary of my brother David’s death. Nine years and two days apart. It’s strange how time heals these wounds. Every year, those two dates come back to back, and…
Keep Laughing, It Makes the Devil Mad
Back in February 2011, I wrote a little line that has stuck with me ever since: “Keep laughing, it makes the devil mad.” Let me tell you how that saying came to be part of my lexicon. The boys and I were down in New Orleans. The youngest two had appointments, so we loaded up the Suburban in Mandeville and…
Katahdin is No Joke, Y’all
Last week, a man died on Katahdin. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. Gut wrenching, especially since he successfully hiked the 2,196 miles of the trail from Springer Mountain to Baxter Peak on Katahdin. He died on the way down, not too far from the summit of Mama K. His name was Bert Goris. He was a…
Why I Say What I Mean (and Mean What I Say)
This Tuesday, September 29th marks 43 years since my brother David died from a self inflicted gunshot wound. September 29, 1983. I was fifteen. Suicide affects the living family members forever. The pain and questions dull over the years, but the scar leaves a mark for all eternity. That anniversary, plus a rough week, has me thinking about why I…
Canoeing, Weightlifting, and the Surprising Abs Discovery
From Canoe Lessons to Discovering I Have Abs (Apparently) Marty and I recently took canoe lessons and kayaking water-rescue training. Somewhere in the middle of all that, we discovered an inconvenient truth: Marty doesn’t swim very well. So we did the logical thing and joined the YMCA. He has to become a stronger swimmer before we go to the Yukon…
Two Days of Water Fun: Lessons in Canoeing and Kayaking
Two Days on the Water: Strokes, Capsizes, and a Storm Friday we put our canoe on Oak Hollow and finally let someone who teaches this watch us paddle. Will said we were paddling okay and gave us a bunch of pointers and tips. Will walked us through the strokes we have been guessing at for two lakes: the J-stroke, the…
