As the links disappear, the ending becomes clear...

"We cannot destroy kindred: our chains stretch a little sometimes, but they never break." ~ Marquise de Se'vigne'

Easter 2014

A perfect ending to a very busy day.  Our Easter morning began with 9:00 mass, followed by a wonderful breakfast with family at the house.  My brothers and mother joined us for a delicious meal and gifts of candy and treats in clever baskets - thank you Uncles and Grammie.  We attended a family BBQ at the park and heard from Scarecrow for the first time.  He is safe, and moving along.  It seems like weeks since we left him at the airport, and yet it has only been 5 days.  I decided to revive a project I had done with Dakota while Teddy was on the Appalachian Trail back in 2001.  Dakota was only 3 while he was away, so we created a paper chain with each link representing each day he was gone.  We would remove a link every day until there were none - this is when Scarecrow would be home.

Today, when we arrived home, the three of us created a new paper chain.  We chose different colors to represent each month he would be away.

The thought that it has only been 5 days and it has felt like weeks was a bit overwhelming for all of us.  To try and organize and condense this huge amount of time is exactly what we needed to put things into perspective.  So after careful selection by Dakota, choosing colors significant to the seasons or specific things Teddy will miss, here are the final choices we made.

We cut strips thin enough to staple together, but wide enough to write on.  Thanks to my friend Brenda, who came up with the idea, we will write our highs/lows for each day on these strips.

For anyone who knows us, it is a ritual we do at dinner time.  We all go around the table and say what our high was for the day and what our low was for the day.  This is a way for the kids to be able to share their thoughts with Daddy when he comes back home.  He will have insight into what was happening while he was away, and the kids won't fear forgetting to share stuff when he calls home.  We were all on board with the idea and could not wait to get started.  At first, I was not sure if this would fly assuming the kids would think it was too childish - I was taught otherwise.  One is never too old to make a paper chain, too old to anticipate an event, or too old to share their thoughts and feelings with loved ones near and far.  So off we went and began our creation.

Dakota was a trooper and cut out 145 strips of paper, each the exact amount for the days in the months of April, May, June, July, August and 12 days in September.  Scarecrow's estimated completion date is the 10th but we wanted to continue the chain until Jagger's birthday on the 12th, when he will turn 12.  Jagger helped me staple these links together and within minutes, a beautiful, but very long paper chain was created.

 
So, as you can see, Dakota is holding the end that represents April, and as the colors change, so do the months.  We end in September, on Jagger's end, with him holding the link that represents his birthday and the day Scarecrow will be home.  Honestly, with this representation of the days we will be without Teddy, it doesn't seem as long now.  The kids have pointed out different milestones to look forward to as well... once the yellow links are gone, summer vacation begins.  We will visit with Teddy in the middle of the teal chain.  A new school year will begin at the red chain.  Daddy will be home in 145 links.

Where did we hang this beautiful piece of artwork? Where we can see it and take a link from it daily. We took the first link off tonight after dinner, each wrote our high/low for the day and will store these thoughts and memories in a treasure box for Teddy to read when he gets home.

I am so proud of my children.  That was my high for today.  The strength, support and love they display overwhelms me.  I honestly believe they are what fuels my strength and allows me to be as supportive as I am for my husband.  So, this post is dedicated to my amazing children... may there always be happy memories, positive goals, beautiful dreams and paper chains in your lives.  I love you both to the moon and back.

Truly blessed and grateful,

The Thruhiker's Wife

Definitely NOT a Pack Rat

So, what exactly do you pack for a walk that is 3,100 miles long? Months of research have gone into choosing exactly what Scarecrow will need to survive while on the CDT.  His main concern is weight.  He has chosen light weight items that will keep him warm in the cold and comfortable for the duration of this walk that is the equivalent of traveling from New York City to California on foot.  Thanks to the generosity of Mike and Angela Arasa, and their sons, Kelly and Steven, he has a brand new backpack that will hold everything he will need for his journey.  They even ordered a custom patch "SCARECROW" which totally sealed the deal on its awesomeness.

 Teddy has known Mike and Angela since their high school days. They share a love of the same music and for awhile, I only knew of them as the couple that Teddy went to concerts with.
Teddy always has wonderful things to share about their friendship and their experiences, ranging from one of his top favorites being back stage passes to the Van Halen show, to the not so elaborate Lita Ford concert at the Marquis.  They also share a love for the NY Rangers and we have had the pleasure of attending a game recently and had a wonderful time.  Angela, being an Islander fan, was a great sport and a good time was had by all.  Teddy and I love spending time with you both and are thrilled to have you on board through this experience.

Mike and Angela have been so excited and supportive of Scarecrow's adventures and we are so appreciative of their presence in our lives.  Every time Teddy opens his pack (which is several times a day) he will remember your generous wonderful wishes and be reminded of both of you as he treks over 3,100 miles.  This gift was probably one of the most important pieces of equipment he needed and we are so grateful you provided him with it.  My favorite part is the patch you had custom made to read "SCARECROW".  The thought you both put into it was truly touching.  I also want to personally thank Mike for helping me set up my iPad to make this blogging easier - your tech savvy advice is much appreciated.

We are blessed with so many wonderful generous people surrounding us - we feel so grateful and thankful.

Until next time,
The Thruhiker's Wife

Wrapped up in the Warmth of Friendship...

Scarecrow's journey would not be complete without a jacket to keep him warm, while up in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.  After much research, Teddy chose a lightweight down jacket that weighs a little over 7 ounces and will keep him toasty warm even in single digit temperatures.  This item was an integral piece of his safety as well as comfort.  We want to thank our amazing, generous supportive friends, Darren & Angela Kropp, and their sons, DJ and Dawson for this wonderful gift.

We met the Kropps when DJ and Dakota were in first grade together.  Dakota was invited over to DJ's birthday, we were invited to stay and hangout by the fire pit afterwards, and we have been friends ever since.  We are so lucky to have the support and love from friends like you guys.  You were a huge support for both of us while Scarecrow hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, and now, have shared our excitement and support as Teddy embarks on this next adventure.

Your generosity in purchasing this jacket, as well as the invites for dinner and drinks, and family gatherings are so appreciated and we are so grateful to have you and your family in our lives.  I want
to thank you in advance for the support and friendship I will undoubtedly seek while Scarecrow is away - we are blessed to have you as part of our family.

Thank you for everything.

Until next time,
The Thruhiker's Wife