I soon got used to my definitive existence as "new" Mrs. hollister. I also soon discovered that she had few relationships: her parents - as well as their parents - had all been only children, and she didn't have any friends, unless you want to call people who are after your money "friends".. . . Acting on a hunch, I decided, of course after the necessary preparation and training, to walk part of the Apalachian Trail. I would start in the north and then, descending south, see how far I would get. In the beginning of May, I started this adventure that would change my life. For the first few days I walked pretty much alone, I didn't pass or meet anyone. And then came the third day. After walking for several hours I heard a strange noise, as if someone was moaning aloud in pain. I walked in that direction, only to discover a fellow hiker, who was lying on the floor, moaning in pain. He was a grown man, it turned out his name was Harry, and he was a few years younger than me. He had slipped very unluckily the day before, and had broken his right arm there. In my backpack were the necessary supplies (you can't do without if you go for a walk here!), and moreover, in an almost forgotten past, I had once completed a nurse training, the contents of which have now surfaced again. I managed to splint his arm, after which I decided to continue walking with him, because he would not let himself be talked out of the goal he had set for himself. He was a widower, now for the third year walking alone the portion of the Apalachian Trail that had been so dear to him and his wife. When we had reached the end of his goal, we found to our surprise that we really didn't want to say goodbye to each other. We confessed our feelings to each other and decided to stay with one first and then the other for a longer period of time so that we could not only get used to each other at our leisure, but really get to know each other better. That's how it happened, and the rest is history: our marriage was modest, intimate, and understated, but oh so intense. Both Harry's daughters wished us the mutually regained happiness and didn't mind at all that we sold our old houses and bought a new joint home near our favorite part of the Apalachian trail. On the contrary, they were happy for us and helped us whenever and wherever they could - and they still help us to this day.... . - Tom -
I soon got used to my definitive existence as "new" Mrs. hollister. I also soon discovered that she had few relationships: her parents - as well as their parents - had all been only children, and she didn't have any friends, unless you want to call people who are after your money "friends".. . . Acting on a hunch, I decided, of course after the necessary preparation and training, to walk part of the Apalachian Trail. I would start in the north and then, descending south, see how far I would get.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of May, I started this adventure that would change my life. For the first few days I walked pretty much alone, I didn't pass or meet anyone. And then came the third day. After walking for several hours I heard a strange noise, as if someone was moaning aloud in pain. I walked in that direction, only to discover a fellow hiker, who was lying on the floor, moaning in pain. He was a grown man, it turned out his name was Harry, and he was a few years younger than me. He had slipped very unluckily the day before, and had broken his right arm there. In my backpack were the necessary supplies (you can't do without if you go for a walk here!), and moreover, in an almost forgotten past, I had once completed a nurse training, the contents of which have now surfaced again. I managed to splint his arm, after which I decided to continue walking with him, because he would not let himself be talked out of the goal he had set for himself. He was a widower, now for the third year walking alone the portion of the Apalachian Trail that had been so dear to him and his wife.
When we had reached the end of his goal, we found to our surprise that we really didn't want to say goodbye to each other. We confessed our feelings to each other and decided to stay with one first and then the other for a longer period of time so that we could not only get used to each other at our leisure, but really get to know each other better. That's how it happened, and the rest is history: our marriage was modest, intimate, and understated, but oh so intense. Both Harry's daughters wished us the mutually regained happiness and didn't mind at all that we sold our old houses and bought a new joint home near our favorite part of the Apalachian trail. On the contrary, they were happy for us and helped us whenever and wherever they could - and they still help us to this day.... . - Tom -