Feel-Goods

I heard the 4-wheeler from the trail before entering the open area called Flat Rock. Expecting a teenager, I stayed in the shadows. What emerged was a bald old man smoking a cigarette, followed by an old Collie. I came forward and greeted him, and began to listen to a fascinating story. He is the landowner of Flat Rock, 75 years old, still working for a national company with a large presence in town, and he was there for maintenance: dropping off corn and taking back memory cards for several deer cams. He even had a camera hooked up to a cell phone to alert him if anybody strayed off-trail or tried to camp without his permission. He is a gentleman farmer, loves the outdoors, Flat Rock is his pride and joy and his hunting ground. He showed me pictures and talked about the variety of wildlife there. I mentioned my own backyard full of wildlife that I feed. I hope I'm enjoying the outdoors when I'm his age and afterwards. I made a new friend in Burt. He made my day. He made me feel good.

This was my long-hike day, and I do Flat Rock a few times a year. The way I did it yesterday was in a 13-mile, 2400-climb-feet, 7-hour version. Solo. In 100 degrees. I enjoyed Miss Kitty's beignets for lunch on-trail, and sucked my 100-oz bladder dry (with lots of pre- and post-hike hydration too). My feet were sore, but I enjoy that trophy as I enjoy the suffering of a steep climb. It feels good to be able to accomplish these hikes... or rides or gym work.

There are many ways to feel good about yourself. I have a few of my own... meeting a like-minded and tough-but-nice guy or gal is one of them. Not just Burt yesterday, but Dawn on the way to Maine and Marcia returning. I also immensely relish my long-time good friends. Of course, it also feels good when contributing and helping, at work and elsewhere.


Trail signs can be reassuring (a blaze, that you're still on-trail) or feel-goods ("Caution: Dangerous Descent." Yeah, right). So, some signs are the feel-good equivalent of complements, which I enjoy receiving and try to dispense regularly but honestly. Having regular birthday cake celebrations are one way of giving scheduled feel-goods, and there are many other techniques. Contributing includes being good to others, which is key to a good life.

Ooops, time flies. I'd better get ready to go enjoy this great hot weather... outdoors.


- © 2010 by Willy

Finally Enjoying My Children

I raised my children by myself. Being a momma-daddy, I am co-dependent but also believe in tough love. Everyone has to stand up on their own two feet.

One of the greatest challenges of being a parent has to be watching my kids make choices as young adults that I believe in my heart are mistakes. All I can do is try to help them understand the potential consequences, hope that the guidance I gave them will somehow help them through, and pray for the best... for their own sake.

I'm tired of getting caught in the tangle of other people's lives.


- © 2010 by Willy

Hike Ended, and On The Way Home

"The more insecurities, the more you pack," remarked daughter Jennifer. She packed her dad.

We were on our way on the yearly backpacking trip that has become a tradition. This one in Maine, where she finished last year but also where she had a heartbreak. She wanted to show me Maine's beauty and also to get back on the horse that threw her.


"It's a four-holer, and has toilet paper... it's Ritzy!" I said. The daughter laughed. I was referring to the privy at the White House Landing, a hiker's little-piece-of-heaven in Maine's Appalachian Trail's 100-Mile Wilderness. It was my fifth and last day of 43 miles, which included seven mountains and 11,000 ascent-feet. But this year the rains came only at night, so it was a much more enjoyable experience than last year's White Mountains.

The only thing that went wrong was that it's raining today, which we were going to use for a seaplane ride of Mt Katahdin (this old man can't climb Katahdin!). Well, OK, the flies were bad too, but expected.

We heard all kinds of trail drama from all kinds of people. My daughter the psychologist people-person thoroughly enjoys this. I marvel at her people skills, and am amazed at the huge variance of reasons for hiking the A.T., but that discussion would be long.

"I'm not going to marry anyone that can't hike a 100-mile wilderness," said the daughter, starting yet another bonding conversation. We talked about all the fake and lazy people in both our lives. "The divorce was bad, but I got to go backpacking," said the true enthusiast. She uses hiking as meditation and problem-solving time. It's a sweet solution that works well for her.

Everyone hikes his own hike.


- © 2010 by Willy

Action

I'm hyperactive... have ants in my pants and passion in my soul.

I am now packing, ultralight, for a Maine hike. I leave very early Saturday after a night of barbie and brew with the boys.

I had been squeezing in 3 hours of daily cardio, besides the lifting. This week of rest has reminded me that I just don't idle well. The throttle needs to be darn near full-open for this machine to be happy. This applies to all aspects, from work to home and to sleep. At work I've hired 10 new people this past year and my day is still an all-day heart attack. Then I dissipate more fuel afterwards at the gym or outside. Unless I'm exhausted, I don't sleep well, nor feel happy. I'm at my best when I'm contributing fully at what I like. I may not retire until I wear out completely. In the meantime, I'm thoroughly enjoying every adventure, big or small. More hikes and bikes, local and far, as well as growing an army of replacements at work.


It's all about the journey. It's not about watching. It's not about catching what's coming. It's about initiating action to get... anywhere.

I took after my daughter that way.


- © 2010 by Willy