I came home this evening after a very busy day and a particularly difficult workout and sat down in my easy chair to relax for a bit, let Maximus sleep in my lap, and watch a little Cash Cab (for those who don’t know, Cash Cab is a show where unknowing people hail a cab and find themselves on a TV quiz show. The longer they answer questions correctly, the more money they win, all the way to their destination. It’s a cool show, and it might be my calling in life to hail every cab in New York, just to meet host Ben Bailey and take his money!). Anyway, moving on…I was halfway tuning in to the show and halfway playing with my lovely little puppy when I heard the final question for the young man in the back of the Honda Odyssey mini-van. The answer for me was obvious when he asked the name of the more than 2100 mile trail starting @ Springer Mt. GA, and ending @ Mt Katahdin in Maine. Of course, it was the Appalachian Trail, that little piece of Heaven Stubbs and I spent roughly 6 months hiking this past year. As I excitedly got my wife’s attention in the other room, it dawned on me: I REALLY miss being in the woods.

Former thru-hikers warned us of this, but we never knew how hard it would be. The best description I can think of is the feeling you got when you were in Junior High, had a crush on that perfect someone, and they didn’t even know you existed. We want to be back out there so badly our hearts ache for it. It’s like the Trail still has hold of us and won’t let go. I can only hope the feeling fades with time, or maybe we get the chance to head back out sometime. Who knows?

I’m heading out tomorrow for a conference in Houston and Mel is heading to see her family in Chicago. It’s a bummer because we’ve been together pretty much non-stop for the last 13 months and we’re not looking forward to the time apart. Oh well, I know the old cliche about absence making the heart fonder or some crap like that. That’s fine but I always thought I could be pretty fond without having to leave!

Two things before I go: In case you’re wondering how things are going with our fundraising efforts, we’re presently at about 30-40% of monthly need and still seeking to find others to partner with us in the ministry of the camp. If you’re interested in partnering, drop us a comment or email me @ joe.wisley@rainbowcamp.org

Finally, in light of the above description of what it feels like to miss the Trail, I’d like to hear your best, or worst, junior high crush story? The bigger fool you made of yourself, the better the story! I’ll lead off with a poem I wrote in 7th grade that I still remember by heart…I thought it was pretty good for a 12-13 yr old. Here goes:

“I met a pretty girl today, walking down the street, her name was (insert crush name here) and I asked her out to eat. She said that she would hate to and that she’s never do it. Then she slapped me in the face and I knew I really blew it. I begged her not to go and for a while to stay. She slapped me in the face again, and then she walked away. I was devastated and at a total loss. I had to make her love me, no matter what the cost. Valentine’s Day was coming up and I knew that this was it. I had to make an impression on her that I knew was sure to stick. I went in town and bought a beautiful diamond ring. I fainted when I saw the price, it was an expensive little thing. I gave it to her anyway and you should have seen her eyes. They lit up like a light bulb and got really big in size. Then she said she loved me, and we would be just fine. She wrapped her arms around me and pressed her lips to mine.”

I think there was some more sappy stuff at the end,  but it is 15 years and a happy marriage later! Long story short, I read her that poem in front of the entire study hall and then I pulled out a necklace and set of earrings that cost at least $25. I asked her out in front of the whole class and, after keeping a straight face for a second, she burst out laughing, turned me down flat, took the jewelry and left me standing in the front of the class by myself! Not one of my finer moments, but I lived through it. Okay, I started the stories, so you’ve got to keep them going. Have a good one. Talk to you again soon.

Melissa and I are constantly in search of information as it relates to health and wellness. Of late, we’ve been trying to find info on the positives and negatives of drinking milk from dairy cows. There are a myriad of different opinions, ranging from “milk must be pasteurized and hormones make it better” all the way to “you might as well not drink it if it has been pasteurized and the hormones and pesticides are of the devil.” We’re inclined to lean toward the hormones being bad for you side, but we’re certainly not experts. Any opinions…preferably based on facts and not just because you happen to like drinking milk!

I did learn that “finishing cows” (fattening them up for sale or to produce more milk by feeding them grains such as corn) isn’t necessarily good for them, as they are ruminates (a fancy word for “grass eaters). Who knew!?

Let us know what you know.