Familiar Ground

GOOD EVENING all...I am presently back East near Allentown, PA, visiting friends and my sons, as well as retracing old walks...Most of my life was passed in this area, so there is a bit of nostalgia and reflection as I see all the old landscapes again, but I am uncertain as to whether I can still call here 'Home' or if that name now applies to Warren...I am in between homes I suppose, or have two homes now, and both hold special places in my memory. Walking along these roads it is like seeing the faces of friends I know intimately, for I have spent thousands of hours walking in solitude, and the land here possesses a beauty that is ingrained into my soul. The trees here have witnessed all the sorrows and joys that my life has fated me, so I pass among them with a humble gratitude which no other place has earned. I guess it's true that the heart is the cradle of home, and no place else I live or visit will ever have the long history of this area. Still there are many places that Could be home if my friends and family joined me to create new memories...In the end it is companionship and experiences shared that give a place meaning.
While on the walk my memories of home mostly concerned my two sons-not in the sense of specifically missing them-rather in me saying fatherly prayers that they both would find happiness in their lives. My tears on the road were in wishing-against all hope- that I could protect them from the pain that each of us Must experience in order to grow. My emotional state at such moments was elemental and connected with deep sympathy for our shared human condition. As Jackson Browne writes " Oh GOD, this is some shape I'm in, when the only thing that makes me cry is the kindness in my baby's eye."...so while on the road, living at that basic, physical level, my emotions were on the surface as well, and very simple. A song overheard on a passing radio could draw me into it with a power unknown in 'normal' life. In the end, there is no place to hide for any of us, and we are all connected in our needs.

Baseball

Good Afternoon folks...When the opportunity arose during the walk I enjoyed watching baseball games, and can remember several evenings when I pulled off my shoes after a long day and sat on the grass or in the bleachers to catch the local teams. The midwest communities were particularly enthusiastic about their Little Leagues, and people there possessed a healthy balance between cheering their favorite team, and appreciation for a well executed play. Which is to say that Sportsmanship was alive and well ... ;) Now that I have returned home I have watched some local playoff games, and saw a good game on the 14th that went into the bottom of the last inning, 2 out, 2 men on base, with a homerun that scored 3 and tied the game. After four extra innings that same team went on to win, again with 2 out and 2 men on in the bottom of the 11th inning. There's nothing like a close game between two good little league teams who have a real enthusiasm for playing- they put the pros to shame sometimes! I was never much good at B-ball, which is probably why I respect people who can instinctively put one over the fence or turn a double play... I am a humbled fan...

Took a 10 mile walk yesterday-just a loop near Warren-and thought that I had only done about 8 miles judging by my feet, which shows that one's physical conditioning stays intact if one exercises regularly. Because I am something of a minimalist, and tend to trust myself, I do not walk with a stick or heart monitor and other such gadgets. Nor do I carry water when walking casually, for I have found that drinking fluids beforehand is sufficient to sustain me for several hours. Two quarts will hydrate me for about ten miles even when carrying a backpack.... So what's the larger point? ....That people worry too much about technology and medical advice sometimes rather than simply getting off the couch and discovering what works for Them. With obesity approaching epidemic proportions, as well as asthma and diabetes on the rise, it is encumbent upon all of us to take responsibility for our own health and not expect others to pay the tab for our personal neglect. Simply walking a few miles a day will decrease your chance of aquiring type 2 diabetes by 50-60%!!! It'll help with weight loss and improve your mental state as well. How simple is that??!! Walk! ..and stop expecting other people to pay for health care costs and medicines that You could have prevented. If you don't like to walk, then bicycle, or swim, or golf without a cart, or shoot basketball... Do what you enjoy! But push yourself away from the computer and video game and Move!... and that's my sermon for today LOL...It really is sad to see so many Americans bringing so many ills upon themselves

Society

Three days back in the 'fake' world and I have discovered that my car-which has been mostly in storage for the past 14 months-has developed a disturbing engine rattle, which may mean major repairs. The garages are too busy to even look at it until July 3rd, so..welcome home to the madness...sigh...When I think of it in terms of working weeks simply to buy or fix a MACHINE...well, you can see why I question the sanity of my culture sometimes.. I have begun to revisit the book and will be working on that for the next year, in between helping my elderly mother and volunteering in the medical office, and the Walkfit gig.
Warren, PA is a small town-about 10,000-in the northwest Mts. of PA, somewhat isolated and economically struggling, but a friendly place to raise kids, with anything one needs within walking distance. The county was voted second best rural county in the nation by Progressive Farmer magazine, edged out by someplace in Kentucky that has better weather lol ...So, you know that you have arrived when Progressive Farmer recognizes your virtues! ...?

Home

Alrighty... I flew into Pittsburgh from LA on Tuesday the 19th, found that the connecting flight to Erie had been cancelled, so decided to walk most of the way home to Warren, PA...I arrived in town yesterday morning, the 24th..The extra 100 plus miles enabled me to re-visit the East coast, which in western Pennsylvania was hilly, with narrow, twisting roads, yet which also provided many more opportunities for water and food than the western states.

Before leaving Los Angeles, I had signed an agreement with Walkfit to promote their insoles, the details of which are still being finalized. As part of that human interest aspect, the local paper will be doing an interview with me tomorrow.

This is all new to me, but the exposure offers a win/win opportunity to promote the book I'm working on and hopefully to inspire people to begin that thing they've been dreaming about all their lives. I think the truth I wish to stress is the basic goodness of America...To witness the media focusing on the negative aspects of humanity is a travesty, for at root all thoughts and actions are self affecting, and without balance it is little wonder that so many people lose faith.

We are a good nation founded on high ideals, and it is up to each of us individually to manifest those ideals in our day to day existence. Personally, thousands of hours of walking and writing have provided me with a solid spiritual sense, and it was to those 'angels'-or whatever you wish to call your inner power-that I made the promise to do this walk. Before leaving I had humbly asked for the time, health and courage to begin it, although after a thousand miles I had added patience and perserverance and Water to the list. Many years ago I had imagined that wanting anything other than food,water, clothes, and a warm, dry place to sleep was the beginning of greed. I know now that Kindness-in the simple offering of water, or directions, or encouragement-is also a necessity. The latter can sustain one's spirit as much as those other needs can sustain the body. That is, keep your needs simple and your wants will be few....Well..I shall end there, for there is a baseball game I wish to attend, and I feel the desire to kick off my shoes for a day or two ;)

WORK IN PROGRESS...

Hi all..this website is a new creation with the patient help of a valuable friend,(Holdonlog.com) so please bear with me as I find the opportunity to get it up and running... At present I am finishing up some work and play in Los Angeles after finishing the cross country walk in Oceanside on June 8th, '07...My home base is in PA, so when I return there in a few days I'll have the time to post some writing here...While in California, I have been filmed by the makers of the 'Walkfit' insoles(Walkfit.com) for a commercial...( I wore cheap sneakers for the entire distance and can honestly say that their product cured some foot problems I had been having... the endorsement Is sincere)..and the LA station KTLA is filming a 'human interest' story later this morning..I want to thank all those people whom I met along the way who helped me with information, and water, and simple kindness..those small offerings were and Are vitally important when life is reduced to the essentials..I'll continue working on the book and stay in touch here as I settle back into 'real' life..Peace, Wes