I don’t usually pick up hitchhikers. Something I was told not to do when I was young…and reinforced by watching more than a few of those movies where picking up a hitchhiker leads to a less than happy ending.
Anyway, I was getting onto I-91 this afternoon, the sun was beating down and there he stood on the side of the on-ramp. Before I really thought about what I was doing I had pulled over and he was quickly making his way toward the car. As Eddie got in he looked to be in his late 50’s, early 60’s. Immediately I could tell there was an interesting story there…if only I could get to it.
“So, what has you walking today?” “Oh, I have been walking the Appalachian trial and my knees started to hurt and so I decided it was not fun anymore and am heading home.” “How long have you been walking?” “I started walking in Georgia months ago. Don’t know why I started really, I’ve walked the entire thing once before.” “You know that is one of my life goals…to walk the entire trail…I’m not sure why, but I would really like to do that…maybe with my son.” “Well, go do it…I have lived my life like an adventure…don’t know why I just have.”
A few miles later I dropped Eddie off at the on-ramp for the Mass Pike. He was hitching it to Syracuse, NY where he had family he was planning to stay with.
I looked in the mirror as I pulled away…one guy on the side of the road with nothing but a pack on his back and a destination in mind. No clear idea how he was going to get there.
It may sound crazy but I would love to take the time and give it a shot. “I live life as if it were an adventure”
Good luck Eddie…
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