Sunday, July 26, 2009

Trails




Whenever I think of trails, the Appalachians come to mind. I read a funny anecdote about it in the Reader's Digest back in the Philippines, something about hikers running into skulls and bones, on account of the length (over 2,000 miles), not to mention the wildlife and the wilderness as a whole.

I never did think I'd live in one of the States they traverse. Can you just imagine breathing the history of the nomadic Indians and their life and culture?

Another thing that comes to mind is the book Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins. I remember him writing about coming to North Carolina, being a houseguest to a black family and wearing green shoes to church (don't quote me, though, it's been so long). Haha!

I guess in my heart I'm a hiker. But for now the only hiking I do is over at the four-block walking trail across the street when I'm not working, with a son, or the whole family. Matthew and I did some walking yesterday, and I was regalling him with tales of my childhood while on the look-out for some mushrooms. (Brought down memory lane by
Rainfield's black mushrooms of Malaysia.) My son can't quite comprehend the fact that when I was his age (six), I'd already plucked and 'cooked' plenty of mushrooms, had near-brushes with snakes, played with so many different kinds of caterpillars (so rashes are not new to me), caught jars of dragonflies, climbed countless fruit trees, nearly drowned from the frequent trips to the beach, flown kites in the fields while carabaos watched, planted and harvested several garden vegetables, and so many more.

I guess a trail, any trail, is an entrance to any life journey. I miss those carefree days of learning, exploring, yearning, reaching out, just BEING. Now it's my son's turn.

It's surreal.


21 comments:

Jesusa said...

i guess we're lucky to have the outdoors to enjoy, free for the taking.

cherie said...

amo baga, grace. kaso lain ako pareho mo na talagang na-e enjoy nin todo an outdoors. i'm so laid-back, the inspiration to go out comes only once in a blue moon, hahaha!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Cherie, Thanks for visiting my blog. I am enjoying yours. My hubby and I are retired and enjoy hiking. We've been on bits and pieces of the Appalachian Trail. It is LONG---but people who hike it are usually very fit.

Your Robins are precious. Glad you enjoyed seeing my bluebirds. Come back to my blog anytime.

Hugs,
Betsy

Thistle Cove Farm said...

Love all the Jenkins books, before, during and after Barbara -smile-. Part of the App Trail comes thru Tazewell County, where I live in the beautiful mountains of southwest VA.

rainfield61 said...

Thanks for the link.

A trail is an entrance to any life journey. And now we see each other in this part of it.

betchai said...

hi Che, we do share some similarities with our childhood, i love mushroom hunting when i was younger, i would wake up really early to beat everyone in the wilderness and would go home so proud with my necklace of mushroom and cook it too. oh, catching dragonflies, grasshopper, gazing at butterfly and caterpillars, etc, now indeed is the time for your sons to enjoy them too like we did.

khai's colleague and sometimes our hiking partner is in appalachian right now, took 6 months sabbatical leave to hike the entire length of the trail.

cherie said...

hello, ms. betsy, how wonderful of you to visit my site. i am very happy, ma'am that the Robins are safe and snug, at least for the moment. i envy you and your husband for hiking on the App Trail, even if it's just bits and pieces! do take care! i shall be in your blogsite again very soon!

cherie said...

hello, ms. sandra of thistle cove farm, haha, well, that's interesting, a book each pre- during and post-barbara! i will have to get my hands on the latter two. how interesting that the App Trail also charms your part of VA! thank you for gracing my page with a lovely comment - i shall be visiting your site again soon! take care!

cherie said...

hi, rainfield, how are you, sir? we didn't find any mushroom, too bad, but i took the opportunity to teach my son some lessons of the 'trail'.

cherie said...

wow, bethsky, you enjoyed those things, too! how about running on rice paddies? sometimes i pity matthew and aj because they don't have exactly the same experiences as i had, but well...

oh boy, your hiking friend will have a grand time! hope you can blog about it if you get a chance!

Unknown said...

When I was very young, I visited various parts of the Appalachian mountains and trails, they were always some of my favorites. Even after being wowed by the Rocky mountains later in life, I still remember the gentle hills and green forests that held so many treasures.
When I finally came back as an adult, it was working at a project for the Coke processing plants in Hunting West VA, the end of the Appalachian Mountains. I painted a few senses of the country side which I still treasure because of what and how that country spoke to me.

cherie said...

wow, you paint, that is wonderful, and especially so when you have such an awesome landscape/backdrop for a subject. thank you for your insight, and for your visit, whitemist, sir...i hope to hear from you again!

skyblue said...

madear,
you are not alone..when i was little,i used to go gather some kankong and snails with my kid buddies..and you know what,snails make trails too and thats how i kept track of them..he he he..

cherie said...

hahaha - i would never have thought, nits! okay, and what or where did the snail trails lead you to?

Cherry said...

i have climbed countless of fruit trees too and even tried planting and harvesting corn in my grandparent's farm, teehee!

cherie said...

thnak you, cher! corn on the cob is one of my favorite things...yum!

Reader Wil said...

Hi Cherie! You must have had a wonderful time when you were young. Great memories to tell your children. The native Americans must have left a lot of remnants of the past!

cherie said...

heelo, ms. reader wil, ma'sm. thank you for your nice comment - yes, yes, i enjoyed my childhood. my sons' experiences are different but we try to expose them to the outdoors as often as we can! thank you dearly!

cherie said...

hello, ms. betsy! i think i actually see a beak in this picture, right there on the left side. well, thanks to you, i am now officially a Robin-watcher! haha! thank you dearly!

Ayie said...

I enjoy the outdoors...getting fresh air and all.

cherie said...

yes, love the freah air, too, ayie! thank you, dear!

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