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Hurrah for us!!!
We survived the first two training days! We did a 4.2-mile
loop each day and all of us had an easy time. Five years
ago, when Eva and I were training for our first walk, we did
the same loop on a Saturday and promptly collapsed for the
remainder of the weekend! In fact, Eva was so fatigued that
she thought that she must have a fatal disease because she
tired so easily! So, I guess some things do get better with
age, other than good wines/cheeses.
The four of us
training to walk are Sandra Sylvest, Eva McMahan, Judith Flohr and myself. We have named
ourselves “Team Flohr” since Judith is usually several yards
in front of the rest of us. Sandra and I teach in the School
of Communication Studies at JMU; Eva is our School Director;
and Judith is a professor of Kinesiology and Director of the
Morrison-Bruce Center at JMU. We have all been friends for
years. Eva and I have known each other the longest; she was
one of my students when I was a teaching assistant at
Southern Illinois University during the dark ages!
Other human members of
“Team Flohr” include Lee Mayfield (professor at JMU) and
Rick Louden (physical therapist), who will be doing
volunteer duties during the actual walk, and Roz Leppington
(professor at JMU) who is our “sag wagon”. The remainder of
our team consists of 7 dogs and 3 cats doing “cheering
duties”. That essentially means they lie around and sleep
while we train, and then enthusiastically greet us on our
return!
Some things we did
note during our walks: most of the cows we passed are
pregnant; the early flowering plants are blooming and/or
getting ready to bloom; and Bonnie, the dog who has
faithfully walked with us for some miles for the last six
years, is still alive and walking! We were afraid that she
had died, but shortly after we passed her house she appeared
in front of us in the road; greeted us; and proceeded to out
walk with us until she became bored with the entire event.
To those of you who
have already sent in donations, my very sincere thanks.
Until next week, I
wish you the best.
P.S. Ask Sandra how
one “catches” blisters!!!
IF I DON’T, WHO WILL! |